Video tape recorder for recording management data on video tape

ABSTRACT

In a recording and reproducing apparatus having at least one program recorded in recording tracks on a recording medium, a management database is recorded on the recording tracks with the program so as to form a management database recording field. The management data is reproduced when the recording medium is loaded in the recording and reproducing apparatus to manage each program recorded on the recording tracks. In the case of a video tape recorder, the management data is recorded on video recording tracks, audio recording tracks and/or control signal recording tracks.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/383,614,filed on Feb. 2, 1995, now abandoned which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 07/643,207, filed on Jan. 18, 1991 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatusand more particularly to a recording and reproducing apparatus whichprovides substantially easier control over the programs recorded orpreset for later recording on a recording medium.

A tape recorded of the above-described type is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,224,644.

In conventional video tape recorders for household use, a plurality ofprograms are recorded on a video tape in the running direction thereof,and a cue signal is recorded at the beginning of each program. When theuser wants to reproduce a given program from the recorded video tape, aseries of operations need to be carried out: putting the video taperecorder in search mode, fast forwarding of the tape up to the positionwhere the cue signal of the program is located and then reproduced,putting the video tape recorder in reproducing mode, and reproducingfrom the tape to see if the program reached is indeed the one desired.

With the above-described conventional video tape recorders, the dataabout each of a plurality of programs recorded on the video tape isactually located at the beginning of each individual program. Thisarrangement involves one disadvantage. That is, whenever the user wantsto see if a desired program is indeed recorded, wants to determine aprogram to be reproduced, wants to search for another program, or wantto overwrite a new program onto a previously recorded program it isnecessary to undergo the chores of repeatedly fast forwarding andreproducing the video tape on the video tape recorder in search of thedesired program, which requires considerable time, until the desiredprogram is located and accessed.

In addition, the prior art video tape recorders only detect, asprogram-descriptive data, the position of each program recorded on thevideo tape when searching therefor. Thus when it is necessary to usefairly complicated data such as timer presetting data, the need arisesto write the presetting data in a separately provided timer presetmemory.

However, using the above method fails to preserve the data specific toeach of the individual video tapes because the timer preset memory iscommon to all video tapes used. So the presetting data above cannot beused as individual control data program.

If the use wants to control a large number of recorded or unrecordedvideo tapes or to keep control over a program "series" recorded on aplurality of video tapes, keeping a record of these tapes is atime-consuming and tiresome task. That task involves writing beforehand,onto labels of the video cassettes and cassette cases, control dataindicating the contents of the programs recorded on the tape, therecording times for these programs, and the preferences for preservingor not preserving each recorded program.

The more programs and video tapes there are to be recorded or preset,the more troublesome and complicated are the chores involved in writingdown the necessary control data, reading the data and making decisionsbased on the data. An acute need has been recognized to simplify as muchas possible the necessary operations and record-keeping activities.

Especially, if a plurality of programs constituting, for example, aserial drama are recorded in a random order on one tape, viewing theseprograms later in the correct order requires the user to repeatedlycarry out the chores described above so as to access each program. Theseaspects of the conventional devices are an inconvenience that has longannoyed their users.

The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatusand, more particularly, to a video tape recorder for household use.

The typical conventional video tape recorder uses a detection head(called the control head) to detect the position data (cue signal) ofany program recorded on the video tape in the running direction thereof.If a plurality of programs are recorded on the video tape and it isdesired to reproduce any of the programs, the cue signal of the targetprogram is searched for and ultimately reached.

Thus when any of the multiple programs recorded on the video tape is tobe singled out and overwritten with a new program, the conventionalvideo tape recorder reaches the target program by searching for its cuesignal, and starts recording the new program onto the tape fieldcontaining the target program.

The conventional video tape recorder has the erase head located upstreamof the magnetic head for recording and reproducing video signals and thecontrol head downstream thereof in the running direction of the videotape. In operation, the downstream control head searches through programcue signals for the one corresponding to the target program. With thetarget program located, the erase head erases it sequentially and thedownstream magnetic head records the new program in its place.

The fact that the erase head is located upstream of the control head inthe conventional video tape recorder involves one disadvantage. That is,where the tape field containing the program to be erased is followed bya field containing a program to be preserved, the upstream erase headtends to erase the position data (cue signal) of the subsequent programfield before the downstream detection head can detect the position datathereof. The inadvertent erasure of the position data can cause theprogram that should be preserved to be erased following the erasure ofthe preceding program from the video tape.

Household electronic appliances of the above-described type allow theuser to record or preset the recording of a least one desired broadcastprogram. Using the preset data, the appliances execute sophisticatedfunctions of diverse kinds. A number of ways have been devised to makethe input of program presetting data easier. For example, switches forsetting necessary items are provided as to be manually operated, and abar code reading means is used to input the necessary data.

Conventional preset data input means have one common disadvantage. Thatis, these household use devices have their recording-related operationsdesignated in machine-oriented terms. The items required by the machineare represented in characters and/or symbols which are arranged on anoperation panel. The user at the operation panel selects and specifiesone or a plurality of these items as needed.

The items which may be specified are established as such on theassumption that the user has a certain level of understanding of thefunctions and structure of the device in question (i.e., a workingknowledge of the basics, expressed in such terms as "Recording StartTime," "Recording End Time" and "Input," which are explained in theinstruction manual). In other words, those who have difficultyunderstanding such fundamentals for a device they want to operate maynot be able to correctly input the program presetting data required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide arecording and reproducing apparatus in which the steps that the usermust carry out in order to control presetting or recording of programsare substantially simplified.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recording andreproducing apparatus which recognizes the recording areas on a videotape in which all recorded programs are located before the tape isactually fast forwarded fast or otherwise manipulated, thereby readilyaccessing any desired program on the tape in the shortest possible time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a data recording andreproducing apparatus which will be a convenient, easy-to-use solutionto the above-described inconvenience of the conventional apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recording andreproducing apparatus capable of overwriting a new program only over theintended program field among a plurality of program fields on the videotape.

The foregoing objects and other objects of the invention have beenachieved by the provision of

a video tape recorder having at least one program recorded to videorecording tracks and audio recording tracks on a video tape; wherein amanagement database recording field is formed at a predeterminedposition on the video recording tracks, or on the audio recordingtracks, or on control signal recording tracks, the management databaserecording field having management data recorded thereto, the managementdata corresponding to said program, the management data being used tocontrol each program recorded on said video tape,

a video tape recorder for recording at least one program onto a videotape; wherein the address data representing the recording start point ofthe program is recorded to the tape top part of the video tape, wherebythe recorded position of the program on the video tape is controlled ina concentrated manner.

a data recording and reproducing apparatus for recording management datato management database recording fields located in recording tracks of arecording medium, the apparatus utilizing the management data in themanagement database recording fields to control the data recorded in therecording tracks or in areas with reference to the recording tracks;wherein reproduction order data representing the order in which toreproduce the recorded data is recorded to the management databaserecording fields,

a recording and reproducing apparatus containing a recording head meansfor sequentially recording at least one program on a recording medium inthe running direction thereof, the recorded program having the data ofthe position thereof recorded by the recording head means into a controlsignal recording track formed on the recording medium in the runningdirection thereof, the program and the position data being erased by anerase head means in recording mode from the recording medium in therunning direction thereof, the erasure being followed by recording of anew program and the position data there onto the recording medium in therunning direction thereof through the use of the recording head means inthe recording mode, which comprises:

a control head means for reading the position data, the control headmeans being located upstream of the erase head means in the runningdirection of the recording medium,

a data recording and reproducing apparatus having management datarecorded to a management database recording field in recording tracks ofa recording medium, the control data being used by the apparatus tomanage the data recorded in the recording tracks, a data input devicecomprising: a data input means to which specification items areassigned, the data input device writing the management data to themanagement database recording field when the data input means isspecified.

The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals or characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1A and 1B together provide a block diagram of a video taperecorder in its entirety according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a function block diagram of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the recording format on the video tapefor use with the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIGS. 4 through 6 are, respectively, schematic and tabularrepresentations of the control database used in the embodiment of FIGS.1A and 1B;

FIGS. 7A and 7B together provide a flowchart depicting the steps inwhich the input data of the video tape recorder are processed;

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9 are flowcharts showing the steps in which the controldatabase used by the video tape recorder is processed;

FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating how a remote controller for usewith the video tape recorder is constructed;

FIG. 11 is a tabular representation of certain language-based itemswhich may be specified by a user;

FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C are schematic diagrams illustrating the format ofa start address for use in the video tape recorder;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing how a recorded program is overwrittenwith a new program;

FIG. 14 is a detailed block diagram of a video recording encoder anddecoder contained in the video tape recorder;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a detailed block diagram of an audio recording encoder anddecoder contained in the video tape recorder;

FIG. 17 is a waveform chart showing the signal format of write controldata for use with the embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 18A and 18B together provide is a detailed block diagram of thevideo recording encoder and decoder, the audio recordingencoder/decoder, and the CTL recording encoder/decoder contained in thevideo tape recorder;

FIGS. 19A, 19B and 19C together provide a schematic diagram of anotherrecording format on the video tape for use with another embodiment;

FIGS. 20A through 22C are schematic diagrams of other recording formatson the video tape for use with other embodiments;

FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C together provide a schematic diagram of theformat of start and end addresses for use with the fifth embodiment;

FIGS. 24A, 24B and 24C together provide a schematic diagram of therecording format for use with another embodiment;

FIGS. 25A, 25B and 25C together provide a front view of the monitor andthe video tape recorder for use with the other embodiments;

FIGS. 26A, 26B and 26C together provide a schematic diagram of theformat of program start and end addresses for use with the embodiment;

FIGS. 27A and 27B together provide a flowchart of the steps carried outwhile program reproduction mode is in effect; and

FIGS. 28 through 32 are tabular representations showing otherembodiments of the remote controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

(1) Overall Construction of the Video Tape Recorder

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a video tape recorder (VTR) 1 in which arecording video signal S1 input through a video signal processing unit 2is supplied to a video tape recorder unit 3 to be recorded thereby. Areproduced video signal S2 is supplied to a monitor 4 as a video outputsignal S3 through the video signal processing unit 2.

In addition, a control management data processing unit 5 is provided. AnI/O data signal S4 is provided by a remote controller 6 and supplied toa control management data processing CPU 8 through a remote controltransceiver 7. In turn, the CPU 8 places control data S5 onto a bus 9for exercising control over circuit elements constituting the videosignal processing unit 2 and the video tape recorder unit 3. Controldata S6 is exchanged between a mechanism control CPU 11 of the videotape recorder unit 3 and the control management data processing CPU 8via a bus 10. In response to the control data S6, the CPU 11 produces acontrol signal S7 for exercising control over mechanisms constitutingthe video tape recorder unit 3.

The video signal processing unit 2 supplies a superimpose fader circuit24 with a received video signal S11, an external line video signal S12and an internal synchronizing signal S13 through an input selectioncircuit 23. The signal S11 is received by a tuner 21, the signal S12 isfed over an input line from an external video signal source, and thesignal S13 is generated by an internal synchronizing circuit 22. Thisarrangement causes the recording video signal S1 to appear at the outputend of the superimpose fader circuit 24.

The recording video signal S1 is supplied to a recording circuit 32 viaa recording switchover circuit 31. In the recording mode, the signal S1is forwarded from the recording circuit 32 through an electromagneticconversion circuit 33 to a magnetic head 34 which records the signalonto a video tape 36 in a video cassette 35.

The video signal thus recorded on the video tape 36 is picked up inreproducing mode by a reproducing circuit 37 through the magnetic head34 and the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33. A reproduction circuit37 then sends the video signal via a reproduction switchover circuit 38to the video signal processing unit 2.

The reproduced video signal S2 passes through an output selectioncircuit 39 and is converted by a video processing circuit (V.S.P.) 40into a video output signal S3 for display on a display screen 4A of themonitor 4.

The control management data processing CPU 8 in the control dataprocessing unit 5 processes basic data stored in a ROM-type basic datamemory 43 and processing data stored in a RAM-type register 44. Theprocessing is performed based on the I/O data signal S4 coming from theremote controller 6 or an input data signal S8 from a VTR keyboard 12 insynchronization with a clock signal from a clock circuit 45. Thus thecontrol data S5 and S6 are placed onto the buses 9 and 10.

In this embodiment, the bus 9 is connected to a card reader 46. Thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 may supply the register 44 withbasic data which the card reader 46 has read from an IC card 47.

It may be necessary to inform the user of the result of the processingdone by the control management data processing CPU 8. In that case, thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 supplies a video displayprocessor 41 with a video display data signal S14 as part of the controldata S5. A video display signal S15 is read from a video RAM 42 based onthe video display data signal S14 and is sent to the superimpose fadercircuit 24. The video display signal S15 is superimposed onto a videosignal S16 given by the input selection circuit 23. This produces asuperimpose output signal S17 which is supplied to the video processingcircuit 40 via the output selection circuit 39. The video processingcircuit 40 displays, on the screen 4A of the monitor 4, an image onwhich a video signal comprising characters, diagrams and otherindications is superimposed. The display provides an interactiveinterface for the user.

While displaying the image comprising characters and diagrams on thescreen 4A of the monitor 4, the control management data processing CPU 8of this embodiment also supplies the remote controller 6 with the videosignal representing the same image via the remote control transceiver 7as the I/O data signal S4. This arrangement causes the same image asthat on the screen 4A of the monitor 5 to appear on a display screen 6Aof the remote controller 6.

The control management data processing CPU 8 records write control dataS25 in a video recording track of the video tape S6. The write controldata S25, part of the control data S5 and associated with the recordingand reproduction of the video tape recorder unit 3, is forwarded througha video recording encoder 51, the recording switchover circuit 31. Therecording circuit S32 and the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33, inthat order, before reaching the track. When control data is read fromthe video recording track via the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33,reproducing circuit 37 and reproducing switchover circuit 38, the datais supplied to the control management data processing CPU 8 as readcontrol data S26 through a video recording decoder 52 and the bus 9.

The control management data processing CPU 8 of this embodiment alsosupplies the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33 with write controldata S27 via an audio recording encoder/decoder 53, the data S27 beingthe same as the write control data S25 fed to the video recordingencoder 51. This allows management data D_(AV) to be recorded onto audiorecording tracks CH1 and CH2 on the video tape 36 through the magnetichead 34 (refer also to FIG. 3). At the same time, the management dataD_(AV) is read from the audio tracks CH1 and CH2 by the electromagneticconversion circuit 33 using the magnetic head 34 and sent to an audiorecording encoder/decoder 53. Thus the management data is supplied tothe control management data processing CPU 8 as read management dataS28.

Furthermore, the control management data processing CPU 8 of thisembodiment supplies the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33 with writemanagement data S29 via a CTL recording encoder/decoder 54, the data S29being the same as the write management data S25 fed to the videorecording encoder 51. This allows management data D_(AV) to be recordedin the control signal recording track TCT on the video tape 36 through afirst control head 34D (FIG. 13)) of the magnetic head 34. At the sametime, the management data D_(AV) is read from the control signalrecording track TCT on the video tape 36 by the electromagneticconversion circuit 33 using the first control head 34D (FIG. 13) andsent to the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54. Thus the management datais supplied to the control management data processing CPU 8 as readcontrol data S30.

In addition, the control management data processing CPU 8 of thisembodiment has the management data D_(AV) read from the control signalrecording track TCT on the video tape 36 by the electromagneticconversion circuit 33 using a second control head 34A (FIG. 13) of themagnetic head 34 and sent to a CTL reproducing decoder 55. Thus themanagement data is supplied to the control management data processingCPU 8 as read management data S48.

(2) Function Blocks of the Video Tape Recorder

The control management data processing CPU 8 exercises overall controlof the video tape recorder in accordance with the function blocksdepicted in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the CPU 8 acts as an interrupt handling means in ablock BK1 upon receipt of a command from the keyboard 12. Thereafter,the CPU 8 acts as a system scheduling means and a database retainingmeans in a block BK2. At this point, while controlling the entire systemon a time series basis, the system scheduling means and databaseretaining means BK2 communicate with a timer preset database creatingmeans in a block BK3 in order to execute the functions of an artificialintelligence module in a block BK4 and of an application processingmeans in a block BK5.

In the artificial intelligence module BK4, the CPU 8 interprets thecontents of a command entered in natural language in accordance withinput command items expressed in natural language by means of a naturallanguage system BK4A.

The CPU 8 infers and learns the habits of the user using a habitlearning and inference system BK4B based on how the command is given inthe applicable natural language. At the same time, the CPU 8 generates ahabit database through the use of a habit database generation systemBK4C.

In the application processing means BK5, the CPU 8 executes thefunctions of a management database model BK5B, a user preference moduleBK5C, a system setting module BK5D and a timer preset module BK5E usinga module processing means BK5A.

In the application processing means BK5, the CPU 8 also provides amessage display using a message system BK5F. At the same time, the CPU 8causes the monitor 4 to provide its display in a monitor block BK5G.

In handling the artificial intelligence module BK4 and applicationprocessing means BK5, the CPU 8 processes a timer preset packet andflags in a common data area processing block BK6.

The processing in the application processing means BK5 is connected viaan I/O driving means BK7 to the video tape recorder proper 3, themonitor 4, the remote control transceiver 7 and the remote controller 6which are external devices.

(3) Recording Format of the Video Tape

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the video tape 36 contains video recordingtracks TA and TB, a control signal (CTL) recording track TCT and audiorecording tracks CH1 and CH2. The video recording tracks TA and TB haverespectively different azimuth angles, are formed diagonally relative tothe tape running direction K1 and in the head scanning direction K2, andsequentially adjoin one another in the tape running direction K1. TheCTL recording track TCT is formed at the outer fringe of the initialscanning loci of the video recording tracks TA and TB in the runningdirection of the video tape 36. The audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2are formed outside the final scanning loci of the video recording tracksTA and TB on the tape 36.

A recording start leader of the video tape 36 contains a managementdatabase video track recording field F_(AVV) covering a predeterminednumber of video recording tracks TA and TB. The management databasevideo track recording field F_(AVV) is followed by a video signalrecording field F_(VD) in which one field of a video signal is recordedin each of the video recording tracks TA and TB.

The management data D_(AV) whose structure is shown in FIG. 4 isrecorded in each of the recording tracks TA and TB. The tracks TA and TBbelong to the management database video track recording field F_(AVV).

A management database audio track recording field F_(AVA) is formed at apredetermined track position of, say, the tape top of the audiorecording tracks CH1 and CH2. The management data D_(AV), with itsstructure depicted in FIG. 4, is similarly recorded onto the managementdatabase audio track recording field F_(AVA).

Furthermore, a management database control signal track recording fieldF_(AVC) is formed at a predetermined track position of, say, the tapetop of the control signal recording track TCT. The management dataD_(AV) whose structure is described in FIG. 4 is likewise recorded ontothe management database control signal track recording field F_(AVC).

The management data D_(AV) comprises a volume data block D_(VM) and aprogram data block D_(PR) recorded in that order from the top side ofthe recording tracks.

The volume data block D_(VM) contains management data about the videocassette 35 loaded in the video tape recorder proper 3. For example, thevolume data block D_(VM) constituted by items A1-A15 in 135 bites, asillustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the data in the item A1 represents a formatversion. The version number of the current management data D_(AV) isrecorded in one byte. When the video cassette 35 is loaded, the formatversion is identified according to this item. This sets up the system toprocess any old version of the management data D_(AV) that may beencountered.

The item A2 indicates the number of times recording has been carriedout. For example, this item retains in one byte the number of time themanagement data D_(AV) has been recorded onto the control database audiotrack recording field F_(AVA). Thus the number of times the managementdata D_(AV) has been recorded using an audio system recording method isrecorded for subsequent reference.

The item A3 indicates the number of PICTURES used. For example, thisitem retains in one byte the number of pictures used when the managementdata D_(AV) is recorded onto the video cassette 35. The number isidentical to the number of recording tracks occupied by the managementdatabase video track recording field F_(AVV). This allows the system todetermine the position of the first track in the video signal recordingfield F_(VD).

The item A4 indicates the number of programs used. For example, thisitem retains in one byte the number of programs that have been preset orrecorded on the video cassette 35 as well as the availability of therecording space thereon.

In this embodiment, bits 0-6 are used to indicate up to a count of 32programs preset or recorded. Bit 7 is used to indicate the availabilityof any more recording space (recording space available if set to 0; notavailable if set to 1). This bit arrangement makes it possible to detectthe unavailability of recording space on the video tape if fewer that 32programs preset or recorded take up all available recording spacebecause of tape length constraints or due to extended program lengths.

The item A5 indicates the data of creation. For example, this itemretains in five bytes the date on which the control data D_(AV) wasfirst written in the video cassette 35.

In this embodiment, bytes 1 through 5 retain minutes, hours, day, monthand year, respectively, each in a two-digit binary-coded decimal number.This allows the system to determine how old the video cassette 35 iswith reference to the volume data D_(VM) in the item A5 indicating thedate of creation.

The item A6 indicates the date of update. For example, this item retainsin five bytes the date on which the management data D_(AV) was updated.

In this embodiment, bytes 1 through 5 retain minutes, hours, day, monthand year, respectively, each in a binary-coded decimal number. Thisallows the system to find out when the currently used management dataD_(AV) was last altered.

The item A7 indicates a system volume number. For example, this itemretains in eight bytes the current serial number, i.e. volume number, ofthe video cassette 35 recorded in "series." The item A7 indicates thatthe currently loaded video cassette is a part of a series whileverifying the serial number thereof. When the systems volume number isadded to the recording preset data retained by the video tape recorderunit 3, the number is displayed on the monitor. By watching the monitor,the user obtains data about a video tape 36 which has been preset forrecording.

The item A8 indicates a screen display color. For example, this itemspecifies in two bytes the color in which to display a list or otherindications. When the user loads a video cassette 35 and gets a listscreen displayed, the color of the currently displayed screenimmediately tells the user which cassette has been loaded.

The item A9 indicates various flags. For example, this item retains aplurality of flag data in one byte. This embodiment allows the user toset a "write inhibit" flag in bit 0 so as to keep the recorded contentsof the video cassette 35 intact.

The system is allowed to set a "formatted" flag in bit 1. This makes itpossible to verify whether or not all recording areas of the video tape36 have been formatted.

The system is also allowed to set an "address mode" flag in bits 2 and 3indicating the type of each program end address. This bit arrangementmakes it possible to always detect any program end address in a modethat varies depending on the video cassette 35.

The item A10 indicates the type of video cassette. For example, thisitem records in two bytes the length and type of the cassette tape used.

In this embodiment, byte 1 is set automatically by the system, whereasbyte 2 is set as needed by the user. When the video cassette 35 isloaded, the type and the length thereof are verified. That in turnpermits verification of the appropriate hub diameter to be used.

The item A11 indicates a password. For example, the user may enter apassword in a four-digit binary-coded decimal number of two bytes. Whenthe video cassette 35 is loaded in the video tape recorder unit 3, theuser is required to enter correctly the password registered for cassetteuse. If the password is not correctly input, neither recording norreproduction of the video cassette 35 is allowed. Then the contents ofthe video tape 36 remain unknown.

The item A12 indicates a user volume number. For example, this itemretains in two bytes a video cassette number, i.e., a volume number thatthe user may assign to the video cassette 35. In this embodiment, theuser volume number may range from 0 to 64,000 in binary-coded decimalnotation. When the user volume number is added to the recording presetdata retained by the video tape recorder unit 3, the number may bedisplayed on the monitor. The display on the monitor informs the user ofthe volume number for the video tape 36 to be preset for recording.

The item A13 indicates a reproducing order. For example, this itemrecords in 32 bytes the order in which up to 32 programs are to bereproduced as needed. When a program reproducing mode is selected, theprograms whose numbers are recorded in byte 1 through byte 32 arespecified in that order for reproduction.

The item 14 indicates a recording order. For example, this item recordsin 32 bytes the order in which up to 32 programs are to have theircorresponding numbers registered for recording. When the programreproducing mode is selected, the programs recorded in the order set inbyte 1 through byte 32 are reproduced in the same order.

The item A15 indicates a volume label. For example, this item indicatesin 40 bytes a label such as a title that the user may assign to thevideo cassette 35. When the volume label is added to the recordingpreset data retained by the video tape recorder unit 3, the label may bedisplayed on the monitor. The display on the monitor in turn informs theuser of the volume label attached to the video tape 36.

In this embodiment, the item A15 may record a label of up to 40characters in ASCII or up to 20 characters in S-JIS code.

The program data block D_(PR) of FIG. 4 comprises program data D_(PRX)which corresponds to the data on the programs recorded or preset to besubsequently recorded on the video tape 36 of the video cassette 35. Atypical structure of the program data D_(PRX) is shown in FIG. 6.

The item B1 indicates a start address. For example, the system writesthree bytes in this item specifying the start address of each programrelative to the first address of the video tape 36 after the program hasbeen recorded in the video signal recording field V_(VD) of the videocassette 35.

With this embodiment, any of three address value modes may be selected:time-of-day mode (seconds, minutes and hours given in binary-codeddecimal notation), program number mode (program numbers expressedaccording to VASS (video address signal search) standards for VHSformat), and control signal mode (address values expressed in CTL pulsecounts according to CTL standards for Beta format).

The item B2 indicates an end address. For example, this item records inthree bytes the end address value of a program relative to the tape topof the video tape 36. In this embodiment, as with the program startaddress values, the program end address values may be expressed in anyof three modes: time-of-day mode, program number mode or control signalmode.

The item B3 indicates various flags. For example, this item records inone byte the data about how a given program has been or is to behandled. With this embodiment, bit 0 contains a "recording done" flagindicating whether the program in question has been recorded. Bits 1 and2 retain a "recording complete status" flag indicating the status ineffect when the recording ended. Bit 3 contains a "write enable" flagindicating whether or not the program may be overwritten. Bit 4 containsa "program viewing history" flag indicating whether or not the programhas been viewed at least once.

The item B4 indicates system program number. For example, this itemrecords in one byte a series of reference numbers given by the system toprograms. With this embodiment, serial numbers 0, 1, 2, etc., from thetape top of the tape are written as system numbers.

The item B5 indicates a program number. For example, in this item theuser may enter one byte indicating a number of the current program in aseries of programs (e.g., a serial drama).

The item B6 indicates a category code. For example, this item may recordin one byte the category of each given program (sports, news, drama,etc.).

The item B7 indicates an input source. For example, this item may recordin one byte the source from which a given program has been input. Inthis embodiment, the item B7 records the channel number selected by thetuner 21 (FIG. 1) or the external line number in the external line videosignal S12 as the data representing the source.

The item B8 indicates a recording/operation mode. For example, this itemmay record in one byte the type of recording mode specified for thevideo cassette 35 as well as the operation mode in effect during therecording. In this embodiment, information may be recorded in the videocassette 35 using one of three broadly categorized modes: Beta mode, VHSmode or 8-mm Video mode. Each mode is set in the item B8 wheninformation is recorded in the video cassette 35 by the correspondingtype of video tape recorder. The Beta mode comprises "Beta Is" mode,"Beta II" mode and "Beta III" mode. The VHS mode contains "SP" mode,"LP" mode and "EP" mode. The 8-mm Video mode includes "SP" mode nd "LP"mode. Illustratively, the operation mode for use with the recording iseither a normal recording mode or a reference signal write-only mode.

The item B9 indicates a recording start time. For example, the itemrecords in five bytes the time of day at which a preset or recordedprogram is to start. In this embodiment, the user writes minutes, hours,day, month and year into bytes 1 through 5, respectively, inbinary-coded decimal notation.

The item B10 indicates a recording end time. For example, this itemrecords in two bytes the time of day at which a preset or recordedprogram is to end. In this embodiment, bytes 1 and 2 are set to minutesand hours in binary-coded decimal notation.

The item B11 indicates preset recording control information. Forexample, this item records in 10 bytes the data for activating the videotape recorder unit 3 (FIG. 1) for preset recording along with any otherperipheral device required to function in synchronization therewith.

The item B12 indicates a title. For example, the user writes, into thisitem in 40 bytes, the character data representing the title of a givenprogram.

(4) Settings of the Video Tape Recorder

In response to a command signal from the remote controller 6 or from thekeyboard 12, the CPU 8 activates processing programs RT0 (FIGS. 7A and7B), RT1 (FIGS. 8A and 8B) and RT31 (FIG. 9) to control the control dataprocessing unit 5, video signal processing unit 2 and video taperecorder unit 3 as desired by the user.

In this embodiment, the remote controller 6 comprises the display screen6A on a housing surface thereof, the screen having an LCD panel with atouch panel provided thereon, as shown in FIG. 10. When a table of itemsto be set is displayed on the display screen 6A, a desired item istouched directly with the user's fingertip. This action generates asignal corresponding to the selected item for input. In addition, acursor appearing on the display screen 6A is moved by four-directioncursor keys 6B and is set to a target item. Operating an ENTER key 6Cinputs the signal representing the target item.

The remote controller 6 has a normal operation setting key 6D, a menudisplay setting key 6E, a control data mode setting key 6F, a firstpreset operation mode setting key 6G, and a second preset operation modesetting key 6H. These mode setting keys are used to specify for the CPU8 the operation mode in which to operate the video tape recorder 1.

How the input data processing program RT0 runs will now be describedwith reference to FIG. 7. In step SP1, the CPU 8 waits for power to beturned on. If power is applied, step SP2 is reached. In step SP2, acheck is made to see if power is applied for the first time. If power isfound to be applied for the first time in step SP2, steps SP3, SP4 andSP5 are executed in sequence. In step SP3, a message "SET TIME OF DAY"appears on the display screen 4A of the monitor 4 as well as on thedisplay screen 6A of the remote controller 6. In step SP4, the currenttime is set in system setting mode. In step SP5, a message "TIME OF DAYIS SET" appears on the display screens 4A and 6A.

With the above steps completed and the time of day established, thevideo tape recorder 1 again enters the same command wait state at thatin which the time of day has just been set.

If the check in step SP2 reveals that power is not applied for the firsttime, the command wait state is also reached. In this state, the usermay select any of the management database, system setting, preferencesetting and time presetting mode options.

In practice, when the menu display mode setting key 6E is operated onthe remote controller 6 (or on the keyboard 12) in the command waitstate, the CPU 8 displays a list of mode options, "MANAGEMENTDATABASE,"" SYSTEM SETTING", "PREFERENCE SETTING" and "TIMER PRESETTING"on the display screens 6A and 4A. The user selects one of these modes bytouching it with his or her fingertip.

In the management database mode, the management data D_(AV) (FIG. 4) isrecorded in the management database video track recording field F_(AVV)or in the management database audio track recording field F_(AVA) on thevideo tape 36 (FIG. 3); in this mode the video tape recorder unit 3 isalso drive and controlled using the management data D_(AV) previouslyrecorded. When the management database item is selected in step SP6,step SP7 is reached. In step SP7, a check is made to see if a videocassette 35 containing a tape with the management data D_(AV) recordedthereon, (called a management data tape) is loaded. If that tape isfound to be loaded, a subroutine RT1 is reached. The subroutine RT1executes various kinds of processing on the management database beforestep SP8 is reached. In step SP8, a check is made to see if the contentsof the management database have been updated. If the contents of themanagement database are found to have been updated, step SP9 is reached.In step SP9, the data recorded in the management database video trackrecording field F_(AVV) or in the management database audio trackrecording field F_(AVA) is replaced with the updated control data.

When all processing on the management database comes to an end, a checkis made in step SP10 to see if power is turned off. If power remainsapplied, the above-described command wait state is again reached. Ifpower is found to be removed in step SP10, step SP11 is reached in whichthe input data processing program RT0 is ended.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, how the subroutine RT1 executes variouskinds of processing on the control database will now be described. Whenthe subroutine RT1 is entered, step SP21 is reached. In step SP21, theCPU 8 displays a management data list on the display screen 6A of theremote controller 6 as well as on the display screen 6A of the monitor4. Thereafter, the CPU enters the command wait state.

At this point, each display screen shows such items as "LABEL", "PRESETCANCEL", "AUTO REPRODUCING", "MANUAL PRESET", "PROGRAM INFORMATIONVERIFICATION" and "MANAGEMENT DATA PRESET", any of which the user mayselect.

The label item represents an operation mode in which to select and setfrom among the management data D_(AV) the volume data or program datacontained in the volume data block D_(VM) or in the program data blockD_(PR) (FIG. 4). If the label item is selected in step SP22, eachdisplay screen displays items "PASSWORD", "RECORDING MODE", "TAPE TYPE","CATEGORY" and "TITLE", any of which the user may again select.

If the user selects the password item, step SP23 is reached. In stepSP23, the CPU 8 allows the user to alter the password data recorded inthe item All of the volume data D_(VMX) (FIG. 5).

If the user selects the recording mode item, step SP24 is reached. Instep SP24, the CPU 8 specifies the recording/operation mode recorded inthe item B8 of the program data D_(PRX) (FIG. 6) and writes theapplicable recording mode data.

If the user selects the tape type item, step SP25 is reached. In stepSP25, the CPU 8 alters the tape type data among the data representingthe video cassette type recorded in the item A10 of the volume dataD_(VMX) (FIG. 5).

If the category item is selected by the user, step SP26 is reached. Instep SP26, the CPU 8 alters the category code data recorded in the itemB6 of the program data D_(PRX) (FIG. 6).

It the title item is selected by the user, step SP27 is reached. In stepSP27, the CPU 8 alters the title data recorded in the item B12 of theprogram data D_(PRX) (FIG. 6).

In the manner described, the CPU 8 alters the data in the password itemthrough the title item in steps SP23-SP27 before reaching step SP28. Instep SP28, a check is made to see if an "END" item is specified. If theend item is found to be specified, the processing on the applicablemanagement database is terminated and step SP29 is reached. Step SP29 isfollowed by step SP8 back in the control database processing loopillustrated in FIG. 7.

If, in step SP21 of FIG. 8, the user selects the preset cancel item inthe control data list displayed in the command wait state, step SP30 isreached. In step SP30, the CPU 8 cancels all programs preset in thecurrent control data list.

If the user selects the auto reproducing item in step SP21, step SP31 isreached. In step SP31, the CPU 8 reproduces in a predetermined order,and alters as needed, the reproducing order data in the item A13 of thevolume data D_(VMX) (FIG. 5).

If the manual preset item is selected by the user in step SP21, stepSP32 is reached. In step SP32, the CPU consecutively accepts the manualsettings of a predetermined number of programs and enters the settingsas control data.

When step SP30, SP31 and SP32 are completed, the CPU 8 returns to themanagement database processing loop (FIG. 7) through steps SP28 andSP29.

While the CPU 8 is the command wait state in step SP21 of FIG. 8, withthe control data list displayed, the user may select the programinformation verification item. This causes the CPU 8 to enter step SP33which is followed by step SP34. In step SP34, the CPU 8 switchesdisplays on each display screen. Depending on the screen selected, stepSP35, SP36, SP37 and SP38 is reached. Within the volume data D_(VMX)(FIG. 5) and the program data D_(PRX) (FIG. 6), the write enable item,the program viewing history item, the category item or the title item isverified and/or altered in step SP35, SP36, SP37 or SP38, respectively.

In this embodiment, characters are used to represent the write enableitem, the program viewing history item, the category item and the titleitem. This representation scheme makes it possible to check and alterthe data concerning a plurality of preset programs in a relativelynarrow display area.

When steps SP35 through SP38 are completed, the CPU 8 returns to themanagement database processing loop (FIG. 7) through steps SP28 andSP29.

If the user selects the management data preset item in the command waitstate while the control data list is being displayed, the CPU 8 enters amanagement data subroutine RT3. There, the CPU 8 executes the managementdata reset processing subroutines RT31 which constitutes part of thesubroutine RT3 and which permits selection of preset mode types, asillustrated in FIG. 9.

With the subroutine RT31 is activated, the CPU 8 prompts the user instep SP41 to select the type of time preset mode. As shown in FIG. 11,this embodiment provides two types of timer preset mode, language-basedpreset mode or graphic-based preset mode, one of which the user is askedin step SP41 to select for the preset screen. In language-based presetmode, the items to be specified are expressed in the form of alanguage-based item table (TBL) in natural language (English). Ingraphic-based preset mode, which is usually used, the specificationitems are expressed in the form of a graphic-based item table in graphicelements such as alphanumeric characters and symbols.

If the user selects the above language-based preset mode, the CPU 8enters step SP42. In step SP42, the CPU 8 causes the language-based itemtable (TBL) to appear on each display screen, and enters in register 44the data which corresponds to the language-based input item selected bythe user.

On the other hand, if the user selects the graphic-based preset mode,the CPU 8 enters step SP43. In step SP43, the CPU 8 causes thegraphic-based item table to appear on each display screen, and enters inthe register 44 the data corresponding to the graphic-based input itemselected by the user.

After the user has completed necessary input operations in the abovesteps, the CPU 8 terminates its management data preset processing andreturns to the management database processing loop of FIG. 8.

The CPU 8 then displays items "ENTRY," "CHANGE" and "INQUIRY" on thescreen. When the user selects the entry item, change item or inquiryitem in step SP51, SP52, SP53, respectively, the CPU 8 initiates thecorresponding processing.

Thereafter, depending on the item selected by the user, the CPU 8displays a calendar-based preset table, weekly preset table or dailypreset table in step SP54, SP55 or SP56, respectively. The user isprompted to write the start time and/or the end time of each program tobe preset into the calendar-based preset table, into the weekly presettable or into the daily preset table.

With the above settings completed, the CPU 8 goes to step SP28 where itis ascertained that the current management database processing programhas ended. The CPU 8 then returns to the management database processingloop of FIG. 7 through step SP29.

Described above is what subsequently happens when the user selects themanagement database item in step SP6 while the initial command waitstate of FIG. 7 is in effect. After the selection, the management datais written to, altered or verified on the video tape. Alternatively, theuser may select the system setting item, the preference setting item orthe timer presetting item. If any of these three items is selected, theCPU 8 accordingly establishes the operating conditions for the affectedparts of the video tape recorder 1.

Specifically, assume that the user selects the system setting item isstep SP61 of FIG. 7. Each display screen then displays such items as"CURRENT TIME", "DOZE-OFF TIMER", "RECORDING MORE", "NOISE REMOVAL". "BSONLINE", "AUTO SETTING", "TUNER PRESETTING" and "LINE INPUTTING" whichmay be selected (see FIG. 7B) by the user in steps SP62 through SP69,respectively. When any of these items is selected, the CPU 8 sets theoperating conditions for the applicable component of the system. Aftercompleting the above processing, the CPU 8 terminates the system settingprocessing loop and moves on to step SP10.

If the user selects the preference setting item in step SP71, the CPU 8causes each display screen to display such items as "PICTURE DISPLAY","MANAGEMENT DATABASE", "USER SETTING", "CHARACTER", "TIMER PRESETTING","USER LEVEL", "MESSAGE" and "VOICE" which may be selected by the user insteps SP72 through SP79, respectively. When any of these items isselected, the CPU 8 executes the processing which corresponds to theselected item. After completing that processing, the CPU 8 goes to stepSP10, as described above.

Assume that the user selects the timer presetting item in step SP81. TheCPU 8 then causes each display screen to display the entry, change andinquiry items, which may be selected by the user in steps SP82, SP83 andSP84, respectively. When the user selects any of these items, eachdisplay screen displays the calendar-based preset table item, the weeklypreset table item and the daily preset table item. The user then selectsone of these three items. When the calendar-based preset table item, theweekly preset table item or the daily preset table item is selected bythe user, the CPU 8 causes the calendar-based preset table, the weeklypreset table or the daily preset table to appear on each display screen,respectively. Using the currently displayed preset table, the userpresets any programs desired.

When completing the timer preset processing loop, the CPU 8 moves on tostep SP10.

In the manner described above, the CPU 8 executes the input dataprocessing program RT0 of FIG. 7. This provides reliable control overthe video tape recorder unit 3 based on the data entered by the user.

(5) Presetting of Management Data Using the Language Input Items

As described above, when "MANAGEMENT DATA PRESETTING" is designated fromthe management data list displayed on the display screens in the commandwaiting state in step SP21 (FIG. 8), the CPU 8 in the control managementdata processing unit 5 enters the management data presetting subroutineRT3 and executes the management data presetting process. At that time, aTable of Language Designated Items TBL shown in FIG. 11 is displayed onthe display screens 4A and 6A so that the user can input the managementdata as if he or she where talking to the computer.

When the timer setting process is executed in step SP81 in the initialcommand waiting state shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 8 displays on the displayscreens 4A and 6A the Table of Language Designated Items TBL shown inFIG. 11, as the case of execution of the management data presettingprocess, so as to allow the user to input the items easily and reliablyusing everyday language.

In this embodiment, the Table of Language Designated Items TBL is a listof terms with which the user can interactively input commands to thevideo tape recorder 1 using natural language. The table contains theterms which represent the operations to be carried out, the terms whichrepresent the contents of the operations, the terms which represent theoperation time or operation hour and so on. These items are arranged inthe table in such a manner that they can be designated by one or aplurality of words.

In this embodiment, the terms with which the time or hour can bedesignated include those with which the times before and after thecurrent time can be designated by the unit of day or week, i.e.,"TODAY", "TOMORROW", "DAY AFTER TOMORROW" and "NEXT WEEK", those withwhich repetition can be designated by the unit of week or day, i.e.,"EVERY WEEK" and "EVERY DAY", those with which the date can bedesignated in accordance with the calendar, i.e., "MONTH", "DAY","SUNDAY" to "SATURDAY", and those with which the time in a day can bedesignated, i.e., "IN THE MORNING", "IN THE AFTERNOON", "O'CLOCK","MINUTE" and "BETWEEN".

The terms with which the input sources can be designated include "BS","LINE", "CABLE", "ch" and "βIII".

The terms with which the operations can be designated include "DISPLAY","CHANGE", "CANCEL", "CONTINUES UNTIL", "RECORD PRESETTING", "END", "STOP. . ." and ".".

The terms with which the above-described terms can be connected include"FROM", "UNTIL", "THE PROGRAM OF", "OF", "AT" AND "TO". The terms withwhich numeral information can be input includes "0" to "12". The termsfor the man-machine interaction with the CPU 8 include "YES" and "NO".

In this embodiment, the Table of Language Designated Items TBL isdisplayed on the display screen 6A of the remote controller 6 and on thedisplay screen 4A of the monitor 4 when the process of "MANAGEMENT DATAPRESETTING" is executed in the subroutine RT3 (FIG. 8) and when theprocess of "TIMER PRESETTING" is executed in step SP81 (FIG. 7), so thatthe user can designate one of the terms listed on the Table of LanguageDesignated Items TBL to input the command represented by the termdesignated to the CPU 8.

For example, when it is desired to program the recorder for the programwhich is aired on channel 2, from 8 o'clock to 9 o'clock on Mondaynight, the user may designate from the Table of Language DesignatedItems TBL, "RECORD PRESETTING", "THE PROGRAM OF" "2", "ch", "FROM", "8""O'CLOCK", "TO", "9", "O'CLOCK", "IN THE AFTERNOON", "OF", "MONDAY","EVERY WEEK" and "." In that order or in another order.

When these operations are those executed in the subroutine RT3 on"MANAGEMENT DATA PRESETTING", the input data is stored in the register44, and then recorded in the management data D_(AV) recording area ofthe management database video track recording area F_(AVV) or themanagement database audio track recording area F_(AVA). That is, therecording starting time information, i.e., the numerical datarepresenting "8 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON OF EVERY FRIDAY", is recordedas the program information D_(PRX) of the program information blockD_(PR) which is identified by Item B9. Also, the informationrepresenting the recording termination time, i.e., the numerical datarepresenting "9 O'CLOCK", is recorded as the program information D_(PRX)identified by Item B10. The data representing the input source, i.e.,the numerical data representing "channel 2", is recorded as the programinformation D_(PRX) identified by Item B7.

If the above-described programming of the recorder 1 is carried out inthe process of CHANGE of TIMER PRESETTING in step SP81, the input datais written as new recording information in the presetting informationmemory provided in the video tape recorder unit 3.

When it is desired to make a change on the preset program, e.g., tochange the channel number of the preset program which will go on the airnext day from channel 6 to channel 8, the user may execute the processof MANAGEMENT DATA PRESETTING of the subroutine RT3 and designate fromthe Table of Language Designated Items TBL, "CHANGE", "THE PROGRAM OF""TOMORROW" "FROM" "6", "ch", "TO", "8", "ch" in that order or in anotherorder.

That is, the input source data recorded on the management data D_(AV)recording area of the management database video track recording areaF_(AVV) or the management database audio track recording area F_(AVA) asthe program information D_(PRX) identified by Item B7, i.e., "6 ch", isreplaced by "8 ch" to change the already set management data.

If the above-described programming of the recorder 1 is carried out inthe process of CHANGE of TIMER PRESETTING in step SP81, the data alreadywritten in the presetting information memory provided in the video taperecorder unit 3 is replaced by the input data.

If it is desired to cancel the already present program, e.g., to "cancelpresetting of the program which will go on the air next Tuesday", theuser may designate from the Table of Language Designated Items TBLdisplayed on the screens in the subroutine RT3 or in step SP81 "CANCEL","THE PROGRAM OF" "NEXT" "TUESDAY" in that order or another.

If the above operations are those executed in the process of "MANAGEMENTDATA PRESETTING" of the subroutine RT3, all the information on theprogram whose recording starting time information, i.e., the numericaldata representing "TUESDAY ON EVERY WEEK", is recorded on the managementdata D_(AV) recording area of the management database video trackrecording area F_(AVV) or the management database audio track recordingarea F_(AVA) as the program information D_(PRX) identified by Item B9 iscancelled.

If the above operations are those executed in "TIMER PRESETTING" in stepSP81, the corresponding information stored in the memory provided in thevideo tape recorder unit 3 is cancelled.

The user can input information more easily and accurately to program therecorder using the Table of Language Designated Items TBL shown in FIG.11 because everyday language is used by the table as the item data inputmeans.

(6) Recording of the Program Start Address

When one or a plurality of programs P1, P2, P3, etc., are recorded onthe video tape 36, the control data processing CPU 8 writes in the startaddress item B1 of the program data D_(PRX) (FIG. 6) the recording startpoint of each program as the program start address value relative to thetape top. Thereafter, when any of the recorded programs on the videotape 36 is to be reproduced or overwritten, the system can verify therecording position of that program by checking the address thereofwithout actually running the tape up to the tape position where theprogram is recorded.

By operating the remote controller 6, the user first enters themanagement data D_(AV) of each item (FIG. 4) as the I/O data S4 throughthe remote control transceiver 7. The control management data processingCPU 8 places the control data into the register 44. Thereafter, if thecontrol data recording mode is selected when, say, the video cassette 35is ejected, the control management data processing CPU 8 transfers themanagement data D_(AV) from the register 44 to the video recordingencoder 51 as the write control data S25. In turn, the video recordingencoder 51 converts the management data into a data video signal S42 andsupplies the signal to the recording circuit 32 through the recordingswitchover circuit 31.

At this point, the recording circuit 32 processes the data video signalS42 in the same manner as the recording video signal S1 is processed.The recording circuit 32 then records the processed signal as onecorresponding to one field of video signal into the video recordingtracks TA and TB (FIG. 3) on the video tape 36 through a videoelectromagnetic conversion circuit which constitutes part of theelectromagnetic conversion circuit 33 as well as through video heads(write and read heads) making up the magnetic head 34.

Thus the management data base video track recording field F_(AVV) (FIG.3) is formed at the tape top of the video tape 36. As shown in FIG. 12B,a management data video signal VD_(DAV) is recorded in the correspondingmanagement database video track recording field F_(AVV).

During the above recording operation, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 transfers mark recording data as control signalrecording data S44 to CTL recording encoder/decoder 54. In turn, the CTLrecording encoder/decoder 54 converts the control signal recording dataS44 into a data control signal S46. The data control signal S46 iswritten as a recording start point mark signal MK_(OS) (FIG. 12C) to thecontrol signal recording track TCT on the video tape 36 through acontrol signal electromagnetic circuit constituting part of theelectromagnetic conversion circuit 33 and through the control head 34D.

Thereafter, the control management data processing CPU 8 transfers thecontrol signal as the control signal recording data S44. This causes acontrol signal CT₀ to be recorded onto the control signal recordingtrack TCT.

In program recording mode, the control management data processing CPU 8records program video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., ofprograms P1, P2, P3, etc., consecutively into the video recording tracksTA and TB (FIG. 12B) of the video signal recording field F_(VD) (FIG. 3)following the management database video track recording field F_(AVV).In parallel with the above recording, the CPU 8 records thecorresponding program audio signals AD_(P1), AD_(P2), AD_(P3), etc., inthe audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 (FIG. 12A). At the same time, theCPU 8 writes control signals CT_(P3), etc., in the control signalrecording track TCT (FIG. 12C).

In the program recording mode described above, the control dataprocessing CPU 8 supplies the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54 with themark signal data in the form of the control signal recording data S44upon starting the recording of the program video signals VD_(P1),VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc. This causes recording start point mark signalsMK_(P1S), MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S), etc., to be recorded as shown in FIG. 12C.

In this embodiment, the mark signals MK_(OS), MK_(P1S), MK_(P2S),MK_(P3S), etc., are each made up of a tape position address valuerelative to the reference point of the tape top on the video tape 36.The tape position address value is illustratively provided bytransferring the value on a tape counter circuit in the video taperecorder unit 3 to the control management data processing CPU 8 via themechanism control CPU 11.

Given the setup described above, when a recorded video cassette 35 isloaded into the video tape recorder unit 3, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 enters management database reproducing mode even as itcommunicates with the mechanism control CPU 11. Once in managementdatabase reproducing mode, the CPU 8 picks up the data video signal fromthe management database video track recording field F_(AVV) on the videotape 36 and writes the data into the register 44, the data beingforwarded through the magnetic heads 34, the electromagnetic conversioncircuit 33, the reproduction circuit 37, the reproduction switchovercircuit 38 and the video recording decoder 52.

The register 44 thus retains the management data DAV (FIG. 4) therein asthe management data specific to the current video tape 36. The programdata block D_(PR) contains the program data D_(PRX) (FIG. 6) for theprograms P1, P2, P3, etc., recorded on the video tape 36.

As described, the position data comprising the recording start pointsMK_(P1S), MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S), etc., is placed in the start address itemB1 of the respective program data D_(PRX). The position data constitutesan address representing the position of each program relative to thereference position of the tape top on the video tape 36. In this manner,the register 44 constitutes part of a system that provides centralizedcontrol over the programs in terms of their addresses.

The user verifies the contents of the start address item B1 comprisingthe respective program data D_(PRX). The verification allows the user toreadily know the position of any program currently recorded on the videotape 36 without going through the chores of forwarding fast andreproducing the tape to see where the desired program actually starts.The user is now able to gain easy access to each of the programsrecorded on the tape.

(7) Overwriting of a Recorded Program

Assume that one of a plurality of programs P1, P2, P3, etc., recorded inthe video recording tracks TA and TB on the video tape 36 is to beoverwritten with a new program. In that case, the control managementdata processing CPU 8 controls the second control head 34A, the erasehead 34B, the recording and reproducing head (video head) 34C and thefirst control head 34D shown in FIG. 13 so as to record the new program.

For example, where a new program is to be overwritten onto the secondrecorded program P2 (FIG. 12), the control management data processingCPU 8 first supplies the mechanism control CPU 11 with a command via thebus 10 for searching the recording start point mark signal MK_(P2S) ofthe second program P2.

Upon receipt of the command, the mechanism control CPU 11 supplies avideo tape driving unit 57 with the control signal S7 specifying thatthe video tape 36 is to be fast forwarded or rewound as needed.

At this point, the control management data processing CPU 8 inputs thecontrol signal that was read by the first control head 34D and forwardedthrough a recording and reproducing circuit 33B contained in theelectromagnetic conversion circuit 33 and the CTL recordingencoder/decoder. If the input control signal is the recording startpoint mark signal, the signal is sent to the mechanism control CPU 11over the bus 10.

The mechanism control CPU 11 has previously input and retained therecording start point mark signal MK_(P2S) corresponding to the secondprogram, the signal being from the control management data processingCPU 8. Based on this signal, the CPU 11 checks to see if the recordingstart point mark signal entered during the above search operationcoincides with the previously retained recording start point mark signalKM_(P2S). If the signals match, it means that the first control head 34Dhas reached the first recorded field of the second program P2. At thispoint, the mechanism control CPU 11 stops the video tape 36 and suppliesthe control management data processing CPU 8 with a signal indicatingthe end of the search operation.

The control management data processing CPU 8 then permits overwritingwith the new program. Specifically, the erase head 34B erases the secondprogram P2 from the tape. At the same time, recording of the new videosignal S1 starts from the beginning of the recorded field VD_(P2) of thesecond program P2, the signal being forwarded through the recordingcircuit 32, a switching circuit 33C and the recording and reproducinghead 34C mounted in a rotating drum 3A. Concurrently, the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 starts recording new control signalrecording data S44 as a new control signal in the control signalrecording track TCT of the second program P2 through the CTL recordingencoder 54, the recording and reproducing circuit 33B and the firstcontrol head 34D.

At this point, a new audio signal is recorded onto the audio recordingtracks CH1 and CH2 via an audio head, not shown.

Because the second control head 34A is located upstream of the erasehead 34C in the running direction K1 of the video tape 36, the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 can detect the control signal and therecording start point mark signal before they are erased by the erasehead 34C.

Thus the control management data processing CPU 8 inputs the controlsignal that is read by the second control head 34A as control signalreproducing data S50, the signal being forwarded through the reproducingcircuit 33A in the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33 and through theCTL reproduction decoder 55. The CPU 8 then waits for the thirdrecording start point mark signal MK_(P3S) to be input, the signal beingrecorded at the beginning of the field containing the third program P3which follows the second program P2 on the tape.

When the third recording start mark signal MK_(P3S) is input, thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 tells the mechanism control CPU11 to terminate the recording operation. This prevents the third programP3 from getting inadvertently erased if the new program being recordedis longer than the second program P2 that has been overwritten.

Because the third recording start point mark MK_(P3S) is read by thesecond control head, the recording operation is reliably stopped beforean erase operation of the third program P3 that needs to be preserved.In this manner, only the second program P2, which was intended to beerased, is overwritten with the new program.

After the new program is recorded as described above, the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 alters the management data D_(AV) inthe register 44 in accordance with the overwrite operation that tookplace. The CPU 8 then rewinds the video tape 36, alters the program dataD_(PRX) in the management data recording field at the tape top, andterminates the overwrite operation.

As described, the second control head 34A is located upstream of theerase head in the running direction K1 of the video tape 36. With thesecond control head reading recording start point mark signals from thevideo tape 36 during recording, the field into which a new program isbeing recorded is continuously checked for its ending. Thus only thedesired portion of the tape is overwritten with the new program.

(8) Variations of the First Embodiment

(8-1) In the embodiment described above, the management data D_(AV) isrecorded onto the video recording tracks TA and TB while a mark signalindicating the recording start point of each program is concurrentlyrecorded in the control signal recording track TCT. Alternatively, themanagement data D_(AV) may be recorded in the audio recording tracks CH1and CH2 or in the tape top part of the control signal recording trackTCT.

Another alternative is to record the mark signals in the audio recordingtracks CH1 and CH2 or in the video recording tracks TA and TB instead ofthe signals being recorded in the control signal recording track TCT.

(8-2) The above-described embodiment is an application of the presentinvention to a recording and reproducing apparatus having a recordingand reproducing head in a rotating drum. Alternatively, the inventionmay be applied to a recording and reproducing apparatus having a fixedhead arrangement for recording and reproducing video signals.

(8-3) In the embodiment described above, the management data D_(AV) hasa volume data block D_(VM) and a program data block D_(PR) recorded, inthat order, from the beginning of the recording tracks. Alternatively,the positions of the blocks may be switched, the blocks may besubdivided into more blocks for different arrangements, or otherwiseallocated on the video tape.

(8-4) The above-described embodiment is an application of the presentinvention to a video tape recorder. Alternatively, the invention may beapplied to various other recording and reproducing apparatus such asDATs (digital audio tape recorders) which record and reproduce audiosignals.

2! Second Embodiment

(1) Recording of Management Data D_(AV) in Management Database VideoTrack Recording Field F_(AVV).

In the second embodiment, the video recording encoder 51 (FIG. 1)converts the management data D_(AV) into a data video signal in theapparatus shown in FIG. 14, the management data thus being recorded onthe video tape 36 having the same format as the video signal. At thesame time, the video recording decoder 52 converts the data video signalinto the management data D_(AV) and supplies it to the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 in the FIG. 14 apparatus, the datavideo signal being reproduced in the same format as the video signalreproduced from the video tape 36.

Specifically, once in the management data recording mode, the videorecording encoder 51 transfers the management data D_(AV) as writemanagement data S25 to the encoder circuit 51A and then converts thedata into video data S41 for writing in a video memory 70, themanagement data D_(AV) having being stored as part of the basic data inthe basic data memory 43 (FIG. 1) based on the control data S5 for thecontrol management data processing CPU 8.

The video data written in the video memory 70 is read out by the displaycontrol circuit 51B, and is converted from digital to analog format toproduce a data video signal S42 which is supplied to the recordingswitchover circuit 31.

The recording switchover circuit 31 is controlled according to thecontrol data from the control management data processing CPU 8 asdescribed with reference to FIG. 1. Thus when the video cassette 35 isloaded into the video tape recorder unit 3, with management databaserecording mode selected before the recording video signal S1 is recordedin the video signal recording field F_(VD) (FIG. 3), the recordingswitchover circuit 31 acts to supply the data video signal S42 to therecording circuit 32.

As a result, the recording circuit 32 records the data video signal S42as a one-field video signal in the video recording tracks TA and TB(FIG. 3) on the video tape 36, the data video signal S42 being suppliedfrom the video recording encoder 51 and forwarded, like the recordingvideo signal S1, through the video electromagnetic conversion circuit33A in the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33 and the magnetic head34.

In this manner, the management database video track recording fieldF_(AVV) is formed illustratively at the tape top part of the video tape36.

When management data reproducing mode is elected, the data video signalis output as the reproduced vide signal S2, the data video signal beingreproduced via the magnetic head 34 from the video recording tracks TAand TB of the management database video track recording field F_(AVV),the reproduced signal being forwarded through the videoelectromagnetical conversion circuit 33A in the electromagneticconversion circuit 33, the reproducing circuit 37 and the reproducingswitchover circuit 38.

At this point, the video recording decoder 52 causes the analog/digitalconversion circuit 52A to convert the data video signal from thereproduced video signal S2 into video data S43. The data S43 afterconversion is written in the video memory 70 via the memory writecontrol circuit 52B.

The video data thus written in the video memory 70 is converted by thedecoder circuit 52C into reproduction management data S44 for output tothe bus 9.

In the apparatus of FIG. 14, the control management data processing CPU8 enters the management database reproduction mode while communicatingwith the mechanism control CPU 11 when the video cassette 35 is loadedinto the video tape recorder unit 3. Using the switchover control signalS45, the control management data processing CPU 8 switches thereproduction switchover circuit 38 to the reproduction circuit 37. Thiscauses the data video signal to be picked up from the managementdatabase video track recording field F_(AVV) on the video tape 36 andfed to the video recording decoder 52 through the magnetic head 34, thevideo electromagnetic conversion circuit 33A, the reproducing circuit 37and the reproducing switchover circuit 38. The video recording decoder52 then converts the data video signal into the reproduction managementdata S44 and writes it in the basic data memory 43.

In the above state of the apparatus, the user may overwrite or alter themanagement data D_(AV) by specifying the "management database" item instep SP6 of FIG. 7 to activate the management database diverseprocessing subroutine RT1 (FIG. 8). In that case, the control managementdata processing CPU 8 goes to step SP 9 for management databasemodification and, communicating with the mechanism control CPU 11,enters the management database recording mode. Using the switchovercontrol signal S46, the CPU 8 switches the recording switchover circuit31 to the video recording encoder 51. This causes the management dataD_(AV) to be read from the basis data memory 43 and written as writecontrol data S25 (data video signal) in the video tape 36, the databeing forwarded through the video recording encoder 51, the recordingswitchover circuit 31, the recording circuit 32, the videoelectromagnetic conversion circuit 33A and the magnetic head 34.

Thus in the apparatus of FIG. 14, once the video cassette 35 is simplyloaded into the video tape recorder unit 3, the user may write, verifyor alter the management data for the recorded programs or preset to berecorded, the management data being located in the management databasevideo track recording field F_(AVV) of the video tape 36. This schemefrees the user from the chores of running the video tape in search modeor reproducing mode, as in the prior art, every time it is necessary toverify the contents of a desired program recorded anywhere on the videotape.

Because various kinds of management data D_(AV) may be retained on eachvideo tape as the management data specific thereto, it is possible tofurther improve the intrinsic functions of the video tape recorder interms of sophistication. When combined with external devices toconstitute a system, the video tape recorder may function as the commandcenter thereof.

(2) Variations of the Second Embodiment

(2-1) In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the encoder circuit 51A is locatedinside the video recording encoder 51 between bus 9 and video memory 70,and the decoder circuit 52C is located inside the video recordingdecoder 52 between video memory 70 and bus 9. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 15, the encoder circuit 51A may be located between video memory 70and display control circuit 51B, and the decoder circuit 52C may belocated between memory write control circuit 52B and video memory 70.

In the apparatus of FIG. 15, the control management data processing CPU8 writes the write management data S25 directly in the video memory 70in the management data recording mode, the write management data S25being transferred thereto over the bus 9.

The write management data S25 thus written in the video memory 70 isread therefrom consecutively according to the read management signal S51sent by the display control circuit 51B. The read data is converted bythe encoder circuit 51A into the video data S52 and supplied to thedisplay control circuit 51B. In turn, the display control circuit 51Boutputs the video data S52 as the data video signal S52.

In the management data reproducing mode, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 supplies the decoder circuit 52C with the video dataS43 for conversion to the reproducing management data S53, the videodata having been input to the memory write control circuit 52B from theanalog/digital conversion circuit 52A. The converted data is written inthe video memory 70 according to the write management signal S54 sent bythe memory write control circuit 52B.

The reproducing management data thus written in the video memory 70 isread therefrom consecutively according to the control data S5 from thecontrol management data processing CPU 8. The read data is placed ontothe bus 9 as the reproducing management data S44.

In the apparatus of FIG. 15, the management data D_(AV) is recorded inthe management database video track recording field F_(AVV) on the videotape 36 in the same manner as in the apparatus of FIG. 14. When themanagement data D_(AV) is read in the basic data memory 43 upon loadingof the video cassette 35, the data concerning the programs recorded orpreset to the recorded on the video cassette 35 becomes known to theuser. Thus the video tape recorder according to the invention makes itsubstantially easier for the user to readily manage the programsrecorded or preset to be recorded (as well as over the video cassettes)than conventional devices.

(2-2) In the above-described embodiment, the encoder circuit 51A and thedecoder circuit 52C are located in the video recording encoder 51 andthe video recording decoder 52, respectively. In this arrangement, thewrite management data, which is read from the basic data memory 43, isconverted into video data signal format. In the same arrangement, thereproduced video data is converted to management data whose format isadapted to be written in the basic data memory 43. Alternatively, theconversion involved may be implemented by the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 on a software basis.

(2-3) In the embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15, the video data S43 obtainedin the management data reproducing mode from the analog-digitalconversion circuit 52A is written temporarily in the video memory 70before the data is read onto the bus 9. Alternatively, the same effectis obtained by installing a video memory 70 for dedicated use by thevideo recording encoder 51 and video recording decoder 52, or byomitting the video memory 70 so that the data may be forwarded directlyto downstream processing circuits.

(2-4) In the embodiments of FIGS. 14 and 15, the management data D_(AV)comprises the volume data block D_(VM) and program data block D_(PR)written in that order from the beginning of the recording tracks.Alternatively, the positions of the blocks may be switched and theblocks may be subdivided into further blocks for different arrangements,or otherwise allocated on the tape.

(2-5) In the embodiments of FIGS. 14 and 15, the management databasevideo track recording field F_(AVV) is located at the tape top part ofthe video tape 36. Alternatively the field may be located somewhere elseon the tape.

3! Third Embodiment

(1) Recording of Management Data D_(AV) in Management Database AudioTrack Recording Field F_(AVA)

In the third embodiment, the audio recording encoder 53 (FIG. 1)converts the management data D_(AV) into a data audio signal in theapparatus shown in FIG. 16, the management data being recorded on thevideo tape 36 in the same format as the audio signal. At the same time,the audio recording decoder 54 converts the data audio signal into themanagement data D_(AV) and supplies it to the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 in the apparatus of FIG. 16, the data audio signalbeing reproduced in the same format as the audio signal reproduced fromthe video tape 36.

Specifically, according to the control data S5 from the control dataprocessing CPU 8, the audio recording encoder 53 reads the managementdata D_(AV) stored as part of the basic data in the basic data memory 43(FIG. 1) and transfers the data as write management data S27 to theencoder circuit 53A for conversion thereby into a data audio signal S41.The data audio signal S41 is supplied as a recording audio signal S42 tothe audio electromagnetic conversion circuit 33A in the electromagneticconversion circuit 33, the signal being forwarded through the recordingswitchover circuit 53B and the recording circuit 53C. The signal is thenwritten by the audio head of the magnetic head 34 in the audio recordingtracks CH1 and CH2 (FIG. 3) on the video tape 36.

As a result, the management database audio track recording field F_(AVA)(FIG. 3) is formed at the top part of the video tape 36.

When the control management data processing CPU 8 enters the managementdata reproducing mode, the audio recording decoder 54 causes thereproducing circuit 54A to receive the data audio signal as thereproduced audio signal S43 via the audio electromagnetic conversioncircuit 33A in the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33, the data audiosignal being picked up by the audio head containing the magnetic head 34from the audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 of the video tape 36. Thereproduced audio signal S43 is then supplied to the decoder circuit 54Cthrough the reproduction switchover circuit 54B.

The decoder circuit 54C converts the input data audio signal S44 intoread management data S28 for output to the bus 9. At this point, thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 writes the read management dataS28 that was sent from the decoder circuit 54C in the basic data memory43.

In the setup of FIG. 16, the control management data processing CPU 8receives a management data write command. In turn, the CPU 8 suppliesthe mechanism control CPU 11 (FIG. 1) with a command telling the latterto proceed to a designated write start cue location on the video tape36. In response, the mechanism control CPU 11 fast forwards the videotape 36 until the designated position thereon is reached.

The control management data processing CPU 8 then supplies the recordingswitchover signal S45 to the recording switchover circuit 53B. Thiscauses the recording switchover circuit 53B to route the data audiosignal S41 of the encoder circuit 53A to the recording circuit 53C.

In this manner, the recording switchover circuit 53B continuously allowsthe recording audio signal S46 from the audio circuit 55 to be input tothe recording circuit 53C. Thus the audio signal is recorded in theaudio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 on the video tape 36.

In the above state of the apparatus, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 reads the management data D_(AV) from the basic datamemory 43 and supplies the data as write management data S27 to theencoder circuit 53A, the write management data S27 being comprised of anFSK demodulation signal whose waveform is shown in FIG. 17. The dataaudio signal S41 that appears at the output terminal of the encoder 53Ais recorded in the audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 (FIG. 3) on thevideo tape 36 through the recording switchover circuit 53B, therecording circuit 53C, the audio electromagnetic conversion circuit 33Ain the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33, and the magnetic head 34.

When the management database audio track recording field F_(AVA) has allbeen recorded on the video tape 36, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 supplies a management data recording end command to themechanism control CPU 11. This action resets the management datarecording mode and causes the recording switchover signal S45 to switchthe recording switchover circuit 53B to the audio circuit 55. Theswitchover completes the series of the management database recordingoperations involved.

Upon receipt of a management database reproducing command, the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 supplies the mechanism control CPU 11with a management data start cue command.

At this point, the mechanism control CPU 11 runs the video tape 36 untilthe initial recording position of the management database audio trackrecording field F_(AVA) (FIG. 3) is reached thereon.

Thereafter, the control management data processing CPU 8 sends out thereproducing switchover signal S47 over the bus 9. This signal switchesthe reproducing switchover circuit 54B to the decoder circuit 54C.

Concurrently, the control management data processing CPU 8 feeds anaudio reproduction start command to the mechanism control CPU 11 so asto prepare the video tape recorder unit 3 for audio reproduction.

Thus the management data D_(AV) recorded in the management databaseaudio track recording field F_(AVA) on the video tape 36 is supplied asthe data audio signal S44 to the decoder circuit 54C, the managementdata being forwarded through the magnetic head 34, the audioelectromagnetic conversion circuit 33A, the reproduction circuit 54A andthe reproduction switchover circuit 54B. At this point, the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 writes the read management data S28 inthe basic data memory 43 over the bus 9, the data S28 having been outputfrom the decoder circuit 54C.

When reproduction of the management data D_(AV) comes to an end, thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 uses the reproducing switchoversignal S47 to switch the reproducing switchover circuit 54B to the audiocircuit 55. At the same time, the CPU 8 outputs an audio reproducing endsignal to the mechanism control CPU 11. This completes the series of themanagement database reproducing operations involved.

In the above apparatus, the user may write, verify or alter themanagement data concerning the programs recorded or preset to berecorded on the video tape 36, the management data being located in themanagement database audio track recording field F_(AVA) of the videotape 36. This scheme frees the user from the chores of running the videotape in search mode or reproducing mode, as is necessary in the priorart, every time it is to verify the contents of a desired programrecorded anywhere on the video tape.

Because various kinds of management data D_(AV) may be retained on eachvideo tape as the management data specific thereto, it is possible tofurther improve the intrinsic functions of the video tape recorder interms of sophistication. When combined with external devices toconstitute a system, the video tape recorder may function as the commandcenter thereof.

(2) Variations of the Third Embodiment

(2-1) In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the encoder circuit 53A and thedecoder circuit 54C are located in the audio recording encoder 53 andthe audio recording decoder 54, respectively. In this arrangement, themanagement data, which is read from the basic data memory 43, isconverted into a data audio signal format. In the same arrangement, thereproduced data audio signal is converted to management data whoseformat is adapted for writing in the basic data memory 43.Alternatively, these operations may be implemented by the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 on a software basis.

(2-2) In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the management data D_(AV) comprisesthe volume data block D_(VM) and program data block D_(PR) written inthat order from the beginning of the recording tracks. Alternatively, nopositions of the blocks may be switched and the blocks may be subdividedinto further blocks for different arrangements, or otherwise allocatedon the tape.

(2-3) In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the management database audio trackrecording field F_(AVA) is located at the top part of the video tape 36.Alternatively the field may be located somewhere else on the tape.

(4) Fourth Embodiment

(1) Recording of Management Data D_(AV) in Management Database ControlSignal Track Recording Field F_(AVC)

In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, the CTL recordingencoder/decoder 54 is connected to the control signal head 34A in themagnetic head 34 through the CTL electromagnetic conversion circuit 33Ain the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33. In operation, the CTLrecording encoder/decoder 54 converts the management data D_(AV) into adata control signal, and writes the signal in the control signalrecording track TCT in a format identical to that of the control signal.The data control signal reproduced from the control signal recordingtrack TCT in the format identical to that of the control signal isconverted into management data D_(AV) which is input under control ofthe control management data processing CPU 8.

That is, the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54 lets the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 supply the management data D_(AV) asrecording management data S28W to the encoder circuit 54B via the writeswitchover circuit 54A according to the control data S5, the managementdata D_(AV) being contained in the register 44 (FIG. 1), the recordingmanagement data S28W constituting the write/read management data S28.

The encoder circuit 54B converts the write management data S28 into thedata control signal S41 which is supplied to the CTL electromagneticconversion circuit 33A via the recording circuit 54C. Then the controlhead 34A records the data control signal S41 in the management signalrecording track TCT (FIG. 3) on the video tape 36.

In this manner, the management database control signal track recordingfield F_(AVC) (FIG. 3) is formed at the top part of the video tape 36.

When the control management data processing CPU 8 enters the managementdata reproducing mode, the management data D_(AV) recorded in themanagement database control signal recording field F_(AVC) is reproducedby the control signal head 34A from the control signal recording trackTCT thereof. The reproduced signal is supplied as the data controlsignal S42 to the decoder circuit 54E through the CTL electromagneticconversion circuit 33A and the reproducing circuit 54D. The decodercircuit 54E transmits the data control signal S42 over the bus 9 to theregister 44 under control of the control management data processing CPU8, the data control signal being forwarded as the read management dataS28R constituting part of the write/read management data S28.

When the management data recording mode or management data reproducingmode is selected, the recording switchover circuit 54A or thereproducing switchover circuit 54F is switched to the positioncorresponding to the management data recording mode or management datareproducing mode, respectively, according to the switchover controlsignal S45 given by the control management data processing CPU 8.Depending on whether the recording mode or the reproducing mode isselected, the recording switchover circuit 54A or the reproducingswitchover circuit 54F is switched to the CTL processing circuit 61.Thus in the recording mode, the recording control signal S46 is recordedon the video tape 36 through the recording switchover circuit 54A, theencoder circuit 54B, the recording circuits 54C, the CTL electromagneticconversion circuit 33A, and the control signal head 34A. In thereproducing mode, the reproducing control signal S47 is read out to theCTL processing circuit 61, the control signal being obtained via thecontrol signal head 34A, the CTL electromagnetic conversion circuit 33A,the reproduction circuit 54D, the decoder circuit 54E and thereproduction switchover circuit 54F.

In the apparatus of FIG. 18, the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54 causesthe encoder circuit 54B to convert the write management data S28W intothe data control signal S41, the write management data being transferredfrom the register 44 when the control management data processing CPU 8enters the management data recording mode. As illustrated in FIG. 19C,the data control signal S41 is recorded in a specific part of the videotape 36, e.g., in the control signal recording track TCT at top of thetape.

When the write management data S28W is logically set to 1 or 0, theencoder circuit 54B changes the duty factor of the CTL pulsesconstituting the control signal accordingly. This causes the writecontrol data S28W to be converted into the data control signal S41.

After the management data control signal CT_(DAV) (FIG. 19C) has beenrecorded in the top part of the control signal recording track TCT,programs P1, P2, P3, etc., are recorded on the video tape 36. Thiscauses program video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., to berecorded in the video recording tracks TA and TB (FIG. 19B) and audiosignals AD_(P1), AD_(P2), AD_(P3), etc., to be recorded to the audiorecording tracks CH1 and CH2. At the same time, management signalsCT_(P1), CT_(P2), CT_(P3), etc., are recorded in the control signalrecording track TCT (FIG. 13A).

With the video tape recorded in the manner above, the top of the tapecontains the management data concerning the programs recorded or presetto be recorded thereon. The management data is subsequently used tomanage the video tape and/or the programs recorded or preset to berecorded thereon.

If the user wants to view a program on the video tape 36, or if the userloads the video cassette 35 into the video tape recorder unit 3 in orderto preset a program for recording on the video tape 36 (FIG. 1), thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 communicates with the mechanismcontrol CPU 11 using the control information S6 so as to put the entirevideo tape recorder in the management data reading mode. With the videotape 36 forwarded and indexed to the position where the management datacontrol signal CT_(DAV) is recorded, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 causes the control signal head 34A to reproduce themanagement data control signal CT_(DAV) so that the read management dataS28R may be output from the decoder circuit 54E. The read managementdata S28R is supplied to the register 44 over the bus 9.

Thereafter, the control management data processing CPU 8 resorts to themanagement data D_(AV) in the register 44 to determine the controlstatus of the programs in the video cassette 35 which is set in thevideo tape recorder unit 3. Thus whenever the user specifies a desiredrecorded program for viewing or presets a program for subsequentunattended recording, the control management data processing CPU 8 readsthe management data D_(AV) from the register 44 for managing the videotape recorder unit 3, or overwrites or alters the management data D_(AV)in the register 44 as needed. In this way, diverse kinds of managementdata including the presetting of programs may be written by the userwhen necessary.

As described, when the user gives operating instructions to themechanism control CPU 11 using the management data, the management dataprocessing CPU 8 automatically controls the video tape recorder unit 3for recording, presetting and other actions.

In the above-described setup of the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54,the management data control signal CT_(DAV) is recorded in the controlsignal recording track TCT. Using the management data in this mannermakes management of the programs on the video tape 36 substantiallyeasier than with the use of comparable prior art devices.

(2) Distributed Recording of Management Data D_(AV)

(2-1) Recording in Control Signal Format and Video Signal Format

In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the control management data processing CPU8 may distributively record the management data D_(AV) in positionsadjacent and corresponding to the programs recorded on the video tape36. The distributed recording of the management data is performed usingthe CTL recording encoder/decoder 54, the video recording encoder 51 andthe video recording decoder 52.

In the apparatus of FIG. 18, the video recording encoder 51 has the sameconstruction as the embodiment shown in FIG. 14. Therefore as describedwith reference to FIG. 14, the top part of the video tape 36 containsthe management database video track recording field F_(AVV). Themanagement data video signal VD_(DAV) is recorded in the managementdatabase video track recording field F_(AVV), as shown in FIG. 20B.

When the control management data processing CPU 8 enters the managementdata reproducing mode, the management data video signal VD_(DAV)reproduced by the video head 34B from the management database videotrack recording field F_(AVV) is supplied as the reproduced video signalS2 to the video recording decoder 52, the management data video signalVD_(DAV) being forwarded through the video electromagnetic conversioncircuit 33B, the reproduction circuit 37 and the reproduction switchovercircuit 38.

At this point, the video recording decoder 52 causes the analog/digitalconversion circuit 52A to convert the reproduced video signal S2 (datavideo signal) into the video data S53. The converted data is written ina video memory 65 via the memory write control circuit 52B.

The video data written in the video memory 65 in the manner above isconverted by the decoder circuit 52C into the read control data S26 foroutput onto the bus 9.

In this embodiment, the recording switchover circuit 31 and thereproducing switchover circuit 38 are switched according to theswitchover control signal S53 provided by the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 over the bus 9. In the management data writing mode,the recording switchover circuit 31 is switched to the video recordingencoder 51. In the management data reproduction mode, the reproductionswitchover circuit 38 is switched to the reproducing circuit 37. Theswitchover allows the reproduced video signal S2 to reach the videorecording decoder 52.

When the control management data processing CPU 8 enters the videosignal recording mode, the recording switchover circuit 31 is switchedto the video signal processing unit 2. In that case, as shown in FIG.20B, the video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., of the programsP1, P2, P3, etc., are recorded in the video tracks TA and TB followingthe management data video signal VD_(DAV). When the control managementdata processing CPU 8 enters the reproducing mode, the video signalsVD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., are supplied consecutively to the videosignal processor 2 via the reproducing switchover circuit 38 which isswitched to the video signal processing unit 2.

Simultaneously with the recording of the video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2),VD_(P3), etc., of the programs P1, P2, P3, etc., in the video recordingtracks TA and TB, the audio signals AD_(P1), AD_(P2), AD_(P3), etc., arerecorded in the audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2, as depicted in FIG.20A. At the same time, as illustrated in FIG. 20C, the control signalsCT_(P1), CT_(P2), CT_(P3), etc., are recorded along with the marksignals MK_(P1), MK_(P2), MK_(P3), etc., in the control signal recordingtrack TCT.

In the above-described apparatus, with the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 in the management data recording mode, the managementdata D_(AV) in the register 44 is provided to the video recordingencoder 51 as the write management data S25. This causes the managementdata video signal VD_(DAV) (FIG. 14B) to be recorded in the top part ofthe video recording tracks TA and TB on the video tape 36.

Concurrently, the control management data processing CPU 8 supplies theCTL recording encoder/decoder 54 with part of the management data in theregister 44 as the write management data S28W. This in turn causes themark management signal MK₀, as part of the management data D_(AV), to berecorded in a position on the control signal recording track TCTcorresponding to the beginning of the management data video signalVD_(DAV).

Thus, at the same time as the management data video signal VD_(DAV) isrecorded in the video recording tracks TA and TB on the video tape 36via the video recording encoder 51, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 switches the recording switchover circuit 54A to thebus 9 using the switchover control signal S45. The switchover allows thewrite management data S28W to be written as the mark management signalMK₀ in the control signal recording track TCT. After this, the recordingswitchover circuit 54A is switched to the CTL processor 61 so that thecontrol (CTL) signal for each recording track in which the managementdata video signal VD_(DAV) is recorded may be recorded onto the controlsignal recording track TCT.

When the video cassette 35 containing the recorded video tape 36 isloaded into the video tape recorder unit 3, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 enters the management database reproducing mode whilecommunicating with the mechanism control CPU 11, and causes the videorecording decoder 52 to read out the management data video signalVD_(DAV) as the read control data S26 onto the bus 9 through thereproducing switchover circuit 38. At this point, the mark managementsignal MK₀ recorded in the control signal recording track TCT is outputto the bus 9 as the read management data S28R through the reproducingswitchover circuit 54F. This makes it much easier to extract themanagement data video signal VD_(DAV).

Furthermore, when the video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., ofthe programs P1, P2, P3, etc., are recorded in the video recordingtracks TA and TB by the video signal processor 2, the control managementdata processing CPU 8 writes management data in specific positions onthe control signal recording track TCT, those positions corresponding tothe beginning of each mark control signal, the management data beingread from the register 44 as the mark control signals MK_(P1), MK_(P2),MK_(P3), etc., and forwarded as the write management data S28W throughthe recording switchover circuit 54A of the CTL recordingencoder/decoder 54.

When the program video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., recordedon the video recording tracks TA and TB are reproduced illustrativelyaccording to the management data placed in the register 44, the markcontrol signals MK_(P1), MK_(P2), MK_(P3), etc., are read from the CTLrecording encoder/decoder 54 as the read management data S28Rrepresenting the recorded positions of the video data signals VD_(P1),VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc. Because the video data of each program recordedon the video recording tracks TA and TB is reproduced easily andreliably in the manner above, management of the programs in theirrecording and reproduction is made considerably easier.

(2-2) Recording in Control Signal Format and Audio Signal Format

In the apparatus of FIG. 18, the audio recording encoder/decoder 53 hadthe same construction as the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 so as toconvert the management data D_(AV) into a data audio signal forrecording onto the video tape 36 in the same format as that of the audiosignal shown in FIG. 21A. In addition, the audio recordingencoder/decoder 53 converts the data audio signal reproduced from thevideo tape 36 into management data D_(AV) in the same format as that ofthe audio signal, the management data being supplied to the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8.

Furthermore, the control management data processing CPU 8 switches therecording switchover circuit 54A in the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54to the bus 9. The switchover allows part of the management data D_(AV)read from the register 44 to be supplied as the write management dataS28W to the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54. In this way, as depictedin FIG. 21C, the write management data S28W is written as the marksignal MK₀ in the beginning of the management database audio trackrecording field F_(AVA) (FIG. 3) where the management database audiosignal AD_(DAV) is recorded.

At this point, the mark signal MK₀ is recorded by changing the dutyfactor of the control signal CT₀ in accordance with the logic level ofthe control data, the control signal being constituted by the CTL pulsesrecorded on the control signal recording track TCT.

As a result, the management data audio signal AD_(DAV) is recorded inthe top part of the audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 on the video tape36. At the same time, the mark signal MK₀ is distributively recorded aspart of the management data onto the control signal recording track TCTwhich corresponds to the beginning of the part where the management dataaudio signal AD_(DAV) is recorded.

In the manner described, the video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3),etc., of the programs P1, P2, P3, etc., are recorded by the video signalprocessing unit 2 in the video recording tracks TA and TB of the videotape 36 which has the management data D_(AV) as its header data. Inaddition, when the audio signals AD_(P1), AD_(P2), AD_(P3), etc., are tobe concurrently recorded in the audio tracks CH1 and CH2 via the audiosignal processing circuit 71 (FIG. 21B), the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 switches the recording switchover circuit 54A in theCTL recording encoder 1 decoder 54 to the bus 9. The switchover allowsthe mark signals MK₁, MK₂, MK₃, etc., to be recorded as part of themanagement data in positions corresponding to the recording startpositions of the video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., of theprograms P1, P2, P3, etc.

A recorded video tape 36 is created in the manner described above. Whenthe user wants to view a given program on the recorded video tape 36,the user first loads the video cassette 35 into the video tape recorderunit 3. This causes the control management data processing CPU 8 to readthe management data audio signal AD_(DAV) from the audio recordingtracks CH1 and CH2 on the video tape 36 through the audio recordingencoder/decoder 53 and to place the signal into the register 44. Usingthe management data in the register 44 concerning the recorded programsP1, P2, P3, etc., the control management data processing CPU 8reproduces, records or presets the desired program as specified by theuser.

With the mark signals MK₀, MK₁, MK₂, etc., thus attached to the controlsignal recording track TCT, the video tape recorder according to theinvention identifies quickly and precisely the position in which eachprogram is recorded on the video tape 36. Thus the video tape recorderas embodied above allows the user to record, reproduce or presetprograms on the video tape much more easily than before.

(2-3) Recording in Control Signal Format and Another Signal Format

FIG. 22 illustrates another embodiment of the invention whereby controldata is distributively recorded in the audio recording tracks CH1 andCH2 as well as in the control signal recording track TCT. In FIGS. 22 aswell as FIG. 21, like reference characters designate like orcorresponding parts. The format of FIG. 22 includes information inaddition to that of FIG. 21. That is, in the format of FIG. 21, when thevideo signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., of the programs P1, P2,P3, etc., are recorded in the video tracks TA and TB, the correspondingaudio signals AD_(P1), AD_(P2), AD_(P3), etc., are recorded in the audiorecording tracks CH1 and CH2. In addition to the information included inthe above format, program-wise control data audio signals AD_(DAV1),AD_(DAV2), AD_(DAV3), etc., are recorded at the beginning of each of theaudio signals AD_(P1), AD_(P2), AD_(P3), etc., recorded in the format ofFIG. 22.

With the format of FIG. 22 in use and with the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 in the management data recording mode, those items ofthe management data D_(AV) which are common to the programs are readfrom the register 44 and supplied as the write management data S27W tothe audio recording encoder/decoder 53. The write management data S27Wis then recorded as the management data audio signal AD_(DAV) in thehead portion of the audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 on the video tape36.

At this point, when the management data audio signal AD_(DAV) is to berecorded, the recording switchover circuit 54A in the CTL recordingencoder/decoder 54 is switched to the bus 9. The switchover allows thewrite management data S28W constituting the mark signal MK₀ to betransferred from the register 44 and written in the control signalrecording track TCT.

Thereafter, when the video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., ofthe programs P1, P2, P3, etc., are to be recorded in the video recordingtracks TA and TB, the control management data processing CPU 8 switchesthe recording switchover circuit 53B in the audio recordingencoder/decoder 53 to the encoder circuit 53A. The switchover causes themanagement data on each program to be transferred from the register 44as the write management data S27W. This in turn causes the program-wisemanagement data audio signals AD_(DAV1), AD_(DAV2), AD_(DAV3), etc., tobe recorded to the audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 of the video tape36.

When the recorded video cassette 35 is loaded into the video taperecorder unit 3, the control management data processing CPU 8 indexesthe video tape 36 to the management data audio signal AD_(DAV1) usingthe mark signal MK₀, and then switches the reproduction switchovercircuit 53E of the audio recording encoder/decoder 53 to the decodercircuit 53F. This causes the management data audio signal AD_(DAV) to beread as the read management data S27R into the register 44.

Thereafter, when the video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., ofthe programs P1, P2, P3, etc., are to be reproduced from the videorecording tracks TA and TB, the control management data processing CPU 8indexes the video tape 36 using the mark signals MK₁, MK₂, MK₃, etc.,corresponding to the programs, and then switches the reproductionswitchover circuit 53E to the decoder circuit 53F. This causes theprogram-wise management data audio signals AD_(DAV1), AD_(DAV2),AD_(DAV3), etc., to be reproduced from the audio recording tracks CH1and CH2 and written as the read management data S27R to the register 44.The individual programs are controlled in accordance with theprogram-wise management data.

In the alternative embodiment described above, the program-wisemanagement data audio signals AD_(DAV1), AD_(DAV2), AD_(DAV3), etc., ofthe individual programs are recorded in the audio recording tracks CH1and CH2. Because the management data specific to each program isrecorded in the tape position where that program is recorded, managementof the individual programs is made much more reliable and precise thanbefore.

(3) Variations of the Fourth Embodiment

(3-1) In the embodiments of FIGS. 18 to 22, the video recording encoder51 and the video recording decoder 52 convert the write management dataS25 to the data video signal; the audio recording encoder/decoder 53converts the write management data S27 to the data audio signal; and theCTL recording encoder/decoder 54 converts the write management data S28Wto the data control signal. All write management data are transferredfrom the register 44. The data video signal, data audio signal and datacontrol signal are recorded onto the video tape 36. When reproduced, thedata video signal, data audio signal and data control signal areconverted by hardware to the read management data S26, S27R and S28R,respectively, for writing in the register 44. Alternatively, the aboveconversion may be carried out on a software basis by the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8.

(3-2) In the embodiments of FIGS. 18 to 22, the management data D_(AV)comprises the volume data block D_(VM) and program data block D_(PR)written in that order from the beginning of the recording tracks.Alternatively, positions of the blocks may be switched, and/or theblocks may be subdivided into further blocks for different arrangements,or otherwise allocated on the tape.

5! Fifth Embodiment

(1) Recording of the Program Start Address and Program End Address

In fifth embodiment as shown in FIG. 23, when recording one or aplurality of programs P1, P2, P3, etc., on the video tape 36, thecontrol data processing CPU 8 also records address-related data into thestart address item B1 and end address item B2 of the address dataD_(PRX) (FIG. 6), the data representing the recording start point andthe recording end point of each program, i.e., the program start addressvalue and the program end address value, respectively, relative to thetop of the tape. Thereafter, whenever a program on the recorded videotape 36 is to be reproduced, overwritten or otherwise accessed, thesystem may ascertain the position in which that program is recordedwithout actually running the tape until the program is reached.

When the user inputs each item of the management data D_(AV) (FIG. 4) asthe I/O data S4 through the remote control transceiver 7 by operatingthe remote controller 6, the control management data processing CPU 8places the data into the register 44. Thereafter, in the management datarecording mode for example, when an ejection command for the videocassette 35 has been entered, the control management data processing CPU8 transfers the management data D_(AV) from the register 44 to the videorecording encoder 51 in the form of write management data S25. In turn,the video recording encoder 51 converts the write management data S25into the data video signal S42 and supplies the signal to the recordingcircuit 32 through the recording switchover circuit 31.

At this point, the recording circuit 32 handles the data video signalS42 in the same manner as the recording video signal S1, i.e., writesthe signal as one-field of a video signal onto the video recording trackTA and TB (FIG. 3) of the video tape 36. The writing of the data videosignal S42 is carried out via the video electromagnetic conversioncircuit (part of the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33) and via thevideo head (part of the magnetic head 34).

In this manner, the management database video track recording fieldF_(AVV) (FIG. 3) is formed illustratively at the top part of the videotape. As depicted in FIG. 23B, the management data video signal VD_(DAV)is recorded in the management database video track recording fieldF_(AVV).

While the write operation above is under way, the control managementdata processing CPU 8 transfers the mark recording data as controlsignal recording data S44 to the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54. TheCTL recording encoder/decoder 54 converts the control signal recordingdata S44 into the data control signal S46. In turn, the data controlsignal S46 is written as a recording start point mark signal MK_(0S)(FIG. 12C) in the control signal recording track TCT on the video tape36 through the control signal electromagnetic conversion circuit (partof the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33) and through the controlsignal head (part of the magnetic head 34).

Thereafter, the control management data processing CPU 8 transfers thecontrol signal as the control signal recording data S44. This causes thecontrol signal CT₀ to be recorded in the control signal recording trackTCT. At the same time, the recording end point mark signal MK_(0E) isrecorded by once again supplying the control signal recording data S44the moment that recording of the management data video signal VD_(DAV)(FIG. 12B) has ended.

In the program recording mode, the control management data processingCPU 8 records the program video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc.,of the programs P1, P2, P3, etc., (FIG. 12B) consecutively in the videorecording tracks TA and TB in the video signal recording field F_(VD)(FIG. 3) following the management database video track recording fieldF_(AVV). Concurrently, the control management data processing CPU 8records the corresponding program audio signals AD_(P1), AD_(P2),AD_(P3), etc., in the audio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 (FIG. 23A)while recording the control signals CT_(P1), CT_(P2), CT_(P3), etc., inthe control signal recording track TCT (FIG. 23C).

In the above program recording mode, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 supplies the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54 with themark signal data as the control signal recording data S44 both at therecording start point and at the recording end point of each of thevideo signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc. This permits recording ofthe recording start point mark signals MK_(P1S), MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S),etc., as well as the recording end point mark signals MK_(P1E),MK_(P2E), MK_(P3E), etc. (FIG. 23C).

In this embodiment, each of the mark signals MK_(0S) and MK_(0E),MK_(P1S) and MK_(P1E), MK_(P2S) and MK_(P2E), MK_(P3S) and MK_(P3E),etc., is constituted by a tape position address value relative to thereference point at the top of the video tape 36. The tape positionaddress value is obtained illustratively by transferring to the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 the value of the tape counter in thevideo tape recorder unit 3, the value being forwarded via the mechanismcontrol CPU 11.

When a recorded video cassette 35 is loaded into the video tape recorderunit 3 in the above-described setup, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 enters the management database reproducing mode throughcommunication with the mechanism control CPU 11. Once in the managementdatabase reproducing mode, the control management data processing CPU 8picks up the data video signal from the management database video trackrecording field F_(AVV) on the video tape 36 and writes the signal intothe register 44, the signal being forwarded through the magnetic head34, the video electromagnetic conversion circuit 33, the reproducingcircuit 37, the reproducing switchover circuit 38 and the videorecording decoder 52.

Thus the register 44 retains the management data D_(AV) (FIG. 4)specific to the current video tape 36. The program data block D_(PR)retains the program data D_(PRX) (FIG. 6) concerning the programs P1,P2, P3, etc., recorded on the video tape 36.

In the manner described, the register 44 constitutes an arrangement ofconcentrated management of program positions on a video tape, with thestart address item B1 and the end address item B2 of the program dataD_(PRX) containing positional data representing the recording startpoints and recording end points MK_(P1S) and MK_(P1E), MK_(P2S) andMK_(P2E), MK_(P3S) and MK_(P3E), etc., of the programs P1, P2, P3, etc.each point being an address indicating the starting or ending positionof a given program on the video tape 36 relative to the reference pointat the tape top.

Using the above arrangement, the user verifies the contents of the startaddress item B1 and the end address item B2 of the program data D_(PRX)on each program. This allows the user to know easily where the desiredprogram is located on the video tape 36 without actually fast forwardingand reproducing the video tape. Access to any of the programs on thevideo tape is thus made much easier than before.

For example, assume that the user wishes to reproduce programs recordedon the video tape 36 in a predetermined order. In that case, all thatneeds to be done is to cause the control management data processing CPU8 to rearrange the start and end addresses of the programs involved intothe desired order. This simplified process readily implementsreproduction of recorded programs in a predetermined order.

It may also be desired to record a new program onto the video tape 36 orto overwrite a new program onto a previously recorded program. In suchcases, the new recording position is determined beforehand by resortingto the register 44 which retains the start and end addresses of therecorded programs in a concentrated manner.

When the user wants to get to the beginning of a certain program so thatthe program may be manipulated as desired, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 reads the start and end addresses of that program fromthe register 44 according to the specification data entered through theremote controller 6. Thereafter, while communicating with the mechanismcontrol CPU 11, the control management data processing CPU 8 fastforwards the video tape 36 and consecutively picks up the mark signalsMK_(P1S) and MK_(P1E), MK_(P2S) and MK_(P2E), MK_(P3S) and MK_(P3E),etc., of the programs P1, P2, P3, etc., from the control signal headwhich is part of the magnetic head 34. A check is then made to see ifthe mark signals thus picked up coincide with the addresses enteredthrough the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54. When a matching recordingstart point mark signal is obtained, access to the beginning of thedesired program on the video tape 36 is completed.

Where a new program is recorded on the video tape 36, the followingtakes place. When the new program is recorded, the recording start pointmark signal and the recording end point mark signal of that program arerecorded on the control signal recording track TCT. At the end of therecording operation mode, the addresses represented by these marksignals are respectively written as the start address item B1 and theend address item B2 constituting the program data D_(PRX) for theprogram, the program data being part of the management data D_(AV) inthe register 44.

In this manner, every time a new program is recorded, the start addressdata and end address data therefor are retained in the register 44 forconcentrated control.

With the processing of the video tape 36 completed and when the user isabout to eject the video cassette 35, specification data supplied to thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 through the remote controller 6causes the mechanism control CPU 11 to rewind the video tape 36 back tothe top position of the tape. The supplied data is then recorded as themanagement data video signal VD_(DAV) in the management database videotrack recording field F_(AVV) of the video tracks TA and TB. Finally thevideo cassette 35 is ejected.

As a result, the top part of the video tape 36 retains the address datarepresenting the position in which each program has been recorded on thetape, the address data being specific to the current video tape 36.Whenever the video cassette 35 is loaded into the video tape recorderunit 3, the address data is read out easily for control purposes.

(2) Another Embodiment

FIG. 24 schematically describes the recording format for use withanother embodiment of the invention. In FIGS. 23 and 24, like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts. As shown in FIG. 24,the recording start point mark signals MK_(0S), MK_(P1S), MK_(P2S),MK_(P3S), etc., are recorded in the positions of the control signalsCT_(P0), CT_(P1), CT_(P2), CT_(P3), etc., on the control signalrecording track TCT. At certain distances from each of these recordingstart point mark signals, count mark signals MK_(X) are recorded. Eachof the count mark signals is constituted by numerical data representinga predetermined value. In this format, the recording end point marksignals MK_(0E), MK_(P1E), MK_(P2E), MK_(P3E), etc., (FIG. 23C) are notincluded.

When the format of FIG. 24 is in use and the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 records the management data D_(AV) in the managementdatabase video track recording field F_(AVV) (FIG. 24A), the recordingstart point mark signal MK_(0S) and the count mark signal MK_(X) arerecorded in synchronization with each recording start point of the videorecording tracks TA and TB.

Likewise, when the program video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3),etc., of the programs P1, P2, P3, etc. are recorded in the video tracksTA and TB, the control management data processing CPU 8 records therecording start point mark signals MK_(P1S), MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S), etc.,in synchronization with the recording start points of these programvideo signals, each recording start point mark signal being followed bya count mark signal MK_(X).

Assume that with the format of FIG. 24 in use, the program video signalsVD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., of the programs P1, P2, P3, etc., arerecorded in the video tracks TA and TB. At the end of recording, thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 writes the addresses of therecording start point mark signals MK_(P1S), MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S), etc.,as the start address item B1 of the program data D_(PRX) for the currentprogram, the addresses being retained in the register 44 as themanagement data D_(AV). Concurrently, the number of the count marksignals MK_(X) up to the recording end point of the current program iswritten as the end address item B2 of the program data D_(PRX).

The start and end addresses thus written as part of the management dataD_(AV) are recorded as the management data video signal VD_(DAV) in themanagement database video track recording field F_(AVV) when the videocassette 35 is ejected.

If the user wants to specify and reproduce one of the programs from therecorded video tape 36, the management data video signal VD_(DAV) isread from the video recording tracks TA and TB and written in theregister 44. Concurrently, the control management data processing CPU 8gains access to the beginning of the desired program on the tapeaccording to the start address of the program, and starts reproducingthe program once it is reached on the tape.

The amount of feed of the video tape 36 in reproducing mode is monitoredby the control management data processing CPU 8 counting the number ofcount mark signals MK_(X) picked up from the control signal recordingtrack TCT. When the count value coincides with the end address datastored in the end address item B2 of the register 44, the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 determines that the program has beencompletely reproduced, and discontinues reproduction.

It may be desired to record a new program by overwriting a previouslyrecorded program on the tape. In that case, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 receives a command signal from the remote controller 6and accordingly reads the start and end addresses of the old program tobe overwritten from the program data D_(PRX) in the register 44. Withthe video tape 36 forwarded up to the start address and stopped there,the video signal processing unit 2 records the new program as the videoinput signal S1 onto the video tape 36 through the recording circuit 32,the electromagnetic conversion circuit 33 and the magnetic head 34.

The amount of feed of the video tape 36 in the recording mode ismonitored by the control management data processing CPU 8 by countingthe number of the count mark signals MK_(X) read from the control signalrecording track TCT. When the count value coincides with the endaddress, the overwriting of the new program is terminated.

In the manner described, a new program is overwritten onto a preciselyspecified location of a recorded video tape 36 (i.e., in the areabetween recording start point and recording end point).

With the format of FIG. 24 in use, the recording of programs on thevideo tape 36 is controlled as easily and reliably as with the format ofFIG. 23.

(3) Variations of the Fifth Embodiment

(3-1) In the embodiments comprising the formats of FIGS. 23 and 24, themanagement data D_(AV) is recorded in the video recording tracks TA andTB while the mark signals representing the recording start point andrecording end point of each program are recorded in the control signalrecording tract TCT on the tape. Alternatively, the same effect isobtained by recording the management data D_(AV) in the top part of theaudio recording tracks CH1 and CH2 or of the control signal recordingtrack TCT.

The mark signals may also be recorded in the audio recording track CH1and CH2 or in the video recording tracks TA and TB, rather than thecontrol signal recording track TCT.

(3-2) In the embodiment of FIG. 24, the recording start point marksignals MK_(P1S'), MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S), etc., of the programs P1, P2, P3,etc., and the count marks signals MK_(X) are recorded in the samerecording track, i.e., in the control signal recording track TCT.Alternatively, the recording start point mark signals MK_(P1S),MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S), etc., may be recorded in a recording track differentfrom the one in which the count mark signals MK_(X) are recorded.

(3-3) In the embodiment of FIG. 24, the mark signals of a predeterminedcode (i.e., of a fixed value) each are recorded as count mark signalsMK_(X) on the tape at intervals of the unit tape feed amount (or feedtime). In the reproduction mode, the count marks signals MK_(X) arepicked up and counted so that the current tape feed position or therecording end point is determined. Alternatively, the count markssignals MK_(X) may be represented by numerical data which areincremented in keeping with the tape feed amount (or feed time) andwhich illustratively may be generated by the control management dataprocessing CPU 8. Then the numerical data may be recorded as the countmark signals MK_(X).

In the above case, the consecutively recorded count mark signals MK_(X)represent the tape feed amount (or feed time) relative to the recordingstart point. In this way, the recording end point is expressed in termsof the tape feed amount (or feed time) relative to the recording startpoint.

(3-4) In the embodiments of FIGS. 23 and 24, the data written as thestart address item B1 and the end address item B2 of the program dataD_(PRX) (FIG. 6) are address values relative to the reference addressposition at the top of the tape, i.e., absolute address values.Alternatively, in the embodiment of FIG. 24 in which the count marksignals MK_(X) are a fixed value each, the number of the count marksignals MK_(X) relative to the recording start point may be usedinstead.

Secondly, where an incremental value is used as the count mark signalMK_(X) representing the tape feed amount (or feed time), the end addressmay be represented by the tape feed amount (or feed time) as it is givenby the count mark signal MK_(X) at the recording end point.

Thirdly, where the count mark signal MK_(X) is represented by anincremental value recorded in keeping with the tape feed amount (or feedtime), it is possible to utilize the difference in tape feed amount (orfeed time) between the recording start point of the program and therecording end point thereof.

Fourthly, where the count mark signal MK_(X) is represented by a fixedvalue, it is possible to use the number of the mark signals from thefirst mark signal at the top of the tape (i.e., the count mark signalMK_(X), sometimes including the recording start point mark signal andthe recording end point mark signal) up to the mark signal of therecording end point of the program.

(3-5) In the above embodiments, the start and end addresses are eachrepresented by data indicating a certain position on the video tape 36relative to the reference address position at the top of the tape.Alternatively, the time at which each program was recorded may be usedas the reference point relative to which the start and end addresses aredetermined.

When the preceding alternative is in use and the programs P1, P2, P3,etc., are recorded, the control data processing CPU 8 (FIG. 1) recordsthe recording start point mark signals MK_(P1S), MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S),etc. in the control signal recording track TCT, in terms of the times ofday at which the programs were recorded. Concurrently, in the embodimentof FIG. 23, the control management data processing CPU 8 records therecording end times as the recording end point mark signals MK_(P1E),MK_(P2E), MK_(P3E), etc., at each recording end point; in the embodimentof FIG. 24, the control management data processing CPU 8 records a countmark signal MK_(X) every time a certain period of time has elapsedrelative to the recording time.

After the programs P1, P2, P3, etc., have been recorded in the abovemanner, the recording start point mark signals MK_(P1S), MK_(P2S),MK_(P3S), etc., and the recording end point mark signals MK_(P1E),MK_(P2E), MK_(P3E), etc., are read from the control signal recordingtrack TCT by the control management data processing CPU 8 and written inthe start address item B1 and end address item B2 in the register 44 asthe program data D_(PRX) (FIG. 4). Thereafter, whenever the videocassette 35 is ejected, the program data is recorded on the video tape36 as the management data video signal VD_(DAV) specific to that tape.

Where any of the programs recorded in the above-described manner in thevideo cassette 35 is reproduced the following takes place: Loading thevideo cassette into the video tape recorder unit 3 causes the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 to read the management data videosignal VD_(DAV) into the register 44. Thereafter, the user specifies aprogram to be reproduced. When reproduction of the specified program onthe display screen 4A of the monitor 4 begins, the control managementdata processing CPU 8 displays a recording time-of-day indicationREC_(TIME) for the program in, say, the bottom right corner of thedisplay screen 4A.

Where program reproduction begins as illustrated in FIG. 25, the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 presets the recording start time on areproducing time counter and counts up the reproducing time whiledisplaying the count value as the recording indication REC_(TIME) on thescreen.

Where a program is being reproduced in the embodiment of FIG. 24, thecontrol management data processing CPU 8 reproduces the count marksignals MK_(X) and displays the recording time indication REC_(TIME) onthe screen.

In the above embodiments, a recording time indication REC_(TIMEX) whosecontents are the same as those of the recording time indicationREC_(TIME) is displayed on the display device 3A of the video taperecorder unit 3. Concurrently, the current time indication PB_(TIME) isdisplayed in the top right corner of the display screen 4A of themonitor 4.

Thus the apparatus of FIG. 25 makes it possible to display the time ofday at which the currently viewed program was recorded while the programis being reproduced. This is yet another feature that may be implementedby the video tape recorder according to the invention.

6! Sixth Embodiment

(1) Recording of Index Data

Where one or a plurality of programs P1, P2, P3, etc., are recorded onthe video tape 36, the control management data processing CPU 8 recordsdata as the start address item B1 and end address item B2 of the programdata D_(PRX) (FIG. 6), the recorded data representing the recordingstart point and recording end point of each program in terms of aprogram start address value and a program end address value,respectively. Thereafter, if any program on the recorded video tape 36is to be reproduced, overwritten or otherwise manipulated, the systemrecognizes the recording position of the program without actuallyrunning the tape until that program is located.

The management data D_(AV) that the user enters as needed is used toalter the contents of the volume data block D_(VM) and to update thereproducing order data.

When the user operates the remote controller 7 to input each item of themanagement data D_(AV) (FIG. 4) as the I/O data S4 through the remotecontrol transceiver 7, the control management data processing CPU 8places the input data into the register 44. Thereafter, when for examplethe video cassette 35 is ejected, the management data recording mode isselected. In this mode, the control management data processing CPU 8retains the management data D_(AV) in the register 44 while transferringthe data therefrom to the video recording encoder 51 as the writemanagement data S25. In turn, the video recording encoder 51 convertsthe write management data S25 into the data video signal S42 which issupplied to the recording circuit 32 via the recording switchovercircuit 31.

At this point, the recording circuit 32 handles the data video signalS42 in the same way as the recording video signal S1, and writes themanagement data D_(AV) as a one-field video signal in the videorecording tracks TA and TB (FIG. 3) on the video tape 36 through thevideo electromagnetic conversion circuit (part of the electromagneticconversion circuit 33) as well as the video head (part of the magnetichead 34).

In this manner, the management database video track recording fieldF_(AVV) (FIG. 3) is formed illustratively at the top part of the videotape 36. As shown in FIG. 26B, the management data video signal VD_(DAV)is recorded in the management database video track recording fieldF_(AVV).

In addition, the control management data processing CPU 8 transfers themark recording data as control signal recording data S44 to the CTLrecording encoder/decoder 54. In turn, the CTL recording encoder/decoder54 converts the management signal recording data S44 into the datacontrol signal S46. The data control signal S46 is recorded as therecording start point mark signal MK_(0S) (FIG. 26C) in the controlsignal recording track TCT of the video tape 36 through the controlsignal electromagnetic conversion circuit (which is a part of theelectromagnetic conversion circuit 33) as well as the control signalhead (part of the magnetic head 34).

Thereafter, the control management data processing CPU 8 records thecontrol signal CT₀ in the control signal recording track TCT bytransferring the control signal as the management signal recording dataS44. At the recording end point of the management data video signalVD_(DAV) (FIG. 26B), the control management data processing CPU 8 onceagain supplies the control signal recording data S44 in order to recordthe recording end point mark signal MK_(0E).

Before the management data recording mode is selected, the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 records, in the program recording mode,the program video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc., of theprograms P1, P2, P3, etc., in the video recording tracks TA and TB ofthe video signal recording field F_(VD) (FIG. 3) which follows themanagement database video track recording field F_(AVV). Concurrently,the control management data processing CPU 8 records the correspondingprogram audio signals AD_(P1), AD_(P2), AD_(P3), etc., as well as thecontrol signals CT_(P1), CT_(P2), CT_(P3), etc., in the audio recordingtracks CH1 and CH2 (FIG. 26A) and in the control signal recording trackTCT (FIG. 26C), respectively.

In the above program recording mode, the control management dataprocessing CPU 8 supplies the mark signal data as the control signalrecording data S44 to the CTL recording encoder/decoder 54 insynchronization with the recording start points and recording end pointsof the program video signals VD_(P1), VD_(P2), VD_(P3), etc. Thispermits recording of the recording start point mark signals MK_(P1S),MK_(P2S), MK_(P3S), etc., and the recording end point mark signalsMK_(P1E), MK_(P2E), MK_(P3E), etc., (FIG. 26C).

In this embodiment, the mark signals MK_(0S) and MK_(0E), MK_(P1S) andMK_(P1E), MK_(P2S) and MK_(P2E), MK_(P3S) and MK_(P3E), etc., are eachconstituted by a tape position address value relative to the referencepoint at the top of the video tape 36. The position address value isobtained illustratively by transferring the count value of the tapecounter circuit in the video tape recorder unit 3 to the controlmanagement data processing CPU 8 via the mechanism control CPU 11.

Thus the mark signals MK_(P1S), MK_(P1E), MK_(P2S) and MK_(P2E) may beused as index data representing the start positions of the programs P1,P2, etc., the positions corresponding to the system program number B4recorded in the management database video track recording field F_(AVV).When the mark signals MK_(P1S), MK_(P1E), MK_(P2S) and MK_(P2E) are eachcounted from the reference point at the top of the tape, the systemprogram numbers of the programs P1, P2, etc., recorded relative to thesame reference point are detected.

In terms of reproduction order data, the system program numbers (FIG. 6)for consecutive reproduction are recorded from byte 1 to byte 32. Whenthe user specifies and inputs a reproducing order, the system programnumbers of the programs recorded in the current video cassette arerecorded in the specified order from byte 1 onward in the managementdata recording mode.

If the user does not input any reproducing order, the system programnumbers of the programs recorded in the current video cassette arerecorded in the originally recorded order from byte 1 in the managementdata recording mode.

Where it is desired to record a plurality of programs continuously andthe user specifies the order in which to reproduce these programs later,the management data recording mode is selected and the system programnumbers from byte 1 are replaced by those of the programs to be recordedin the current video cassette in the specified order. If the user doesnot specify any reproducing order, the system program numbers followingthe last reproducing order data in effect before the update are recordedas the reproducing order data for the newly recorded programs.

Concurrently, where a plurality of programs are recorded continuously,the control management data processing CPU 8 enters the management datarecording mode and alters the number of recording times item A2, date ofupdate item A6, etc.

As described, it is possible to determine the reproducing order based onthe reproducing order data specified beforehand upon recording ofprograms. For example, if a plurality of programs constituting a serialdrama are recorded in a random order on one tape, the order in which toreproduce these programs later may be specified in advance.

Thus, recorded programs are easily reproduced in a predetermined orderusing the start address data item B1 for each program and the markssignals MK_(P1S), MK_(P1E), MK_(P2S) and MK_(P2E) in addition to thereproducing order data. This feature boosts the level of conveniencewhich the video tape recorder 1 provides.

(2) Program Reproducing Mode

As described with reference to FIG. 8, when the user selects the "autoreproducing" item in the management data list on the display screen instep SP21, the control management data processing CPU 8 enters theprogram reproducing mode and executes the auto reproducing process instep SP31.

That is, when the recorded video cassette 35 is loaded into the videotape recorded unit 3, the control management data processing CPU 8enters the management database reproducing mode while maintainingcommunication with the mechanism control CPU 11. In the managementdatabase reproducing mode, the control management data processing CPU 8picks up the data video signal from the management database video trackrecording field F_(AVV) of the video tape 36, and writes the signal inthe register 44, the picked-up signal being forwarded through themagnetic head 34, the video electromagnetic conversion circuit 33, thereproducing circuit 37, the reproducing switchover circuit 38 and thevideo recording decoder 52.

In this manner, the register 44 retains the management data D_(AV) (FIG.4) as the data specific to the current video tape 36. Thus both thereproducing order data and the program data D_(PRX) (FIG. 6) concerningthe programs P1, P2, P3, etc., are retained.

In the manner described, the register 44 constitutes an arrangement forconcentrating control over program positions on a video tape, with thestart address item B1 and the end address item B2 of the program dataD_(PRX) containing positional data representing the recording startpoints and recording end points MK_(P1S) and MK_(P1E), MK_(P2S) andMK_(P2E), MK_(P3S), and MK_(P3E), etc., of the programs P1, P2, P3,etc., each point being an address indicating the start or end positionof a given program on the video tape 36 relative to the reference pointat the top of the tape.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, in the program reproducing mode the CPU 8proceeds from step SP90 to step SP91. After detecting the system programnumbers using the reproducing order data in the register 44, the CPU 8detects the start address of the specified system program number.

Upon start of program reproducing, the CPU 8 detects the system programnumber recorded in byte 1 of the reproducing order data.

The CPU 8 then proceeds to step SP92 in which a check is made to see ifthe system program number is specified in the reproducing order data.

Because the system program number is detected in byte 1 of thereproducing order data upon start of program reproducing, the CPU 8proceeds to step SP93. In step SP93, the CPU 8 outputs the control dataS6 to the mechanism control CPU 11 over the bus 10, whereby the videotape recorder 1 is switched to reproducing mode.

When the mark signal MK_(P1S) is detected, the CPU 8 checks to see ifthe program recorded following the mark signal MK_(P1S) is the programrepresented by the system program number recorded in byte 1. If theresult of the check is affirmative, step SP94 is reached.

Thereafter, the CPU 8 remains in the reproducing mode until the nextmark signal is detected. At that point, the CPU goes to step SP92.

Where a program recorded at the top side of the tape is specified to bereproduced first, the CPU 8 carries out steps SP92, SP93 and SP94. Thesesteps cause the video tape recorder 1 to reproduce the program.

After detecting the system program number recorded in the reproducingorder data that follows, the CPU 8 goes to step SP93 via step SP92.

If the system program number of the program located on the top side ofthe tape is not recorded in byte 1 of the reproducing order data, or ifa program recorded on the top side is specified to be reproduced first,to be followed in order of reproduction by another program which can bereached only by skipping over still other programs, the result of thecheck by the CPU 8 in step SP93 is negative. In that case, the CPU 8goes to step SP95.

In step SP95, the CPU 8 checks to see if the system program number ofthe program to be reproduced next is recorded toward the end of thetape. If the result of the check is affirmative, the CPU 8 goes to stepSP96. In step SP96, the CPU 8 fast forwards the video tape 36 until themark signal MK_(P2S) is detected. The CPU 8 then goes to step SP97.

In step SP97, the CPU 8 checks to see if the tape end is reached. If theresult of the check is negative, the CPU 8 goes to step SP93. In stepSP93, the CPU 8 checks to see if the current number is the systemprogram number specified in the reproducing order data.

As described, where a program on the top side of the tape is reproducedfirst, followed by another program reached by skipping the program orprograms immediately following the first, or where a program or programson the top side of the tape skipped for reproduction of a subsequentprogram, the CPU 8 goes through the steps SP93, SP95, SP96, SP97 andback to SP93, repeatedly. When the check in step SP93 reveals that thecurrent number is the system program number specified in the reproducingorder data, the programs are reproduced one after another in the orderspecified beforehand.

If the result of the check in step SP95 is negative, the CPU 8 goes tostep SP98. In step SP98, contrary to what took place in step SP97, thevideo tape 36 is rewound until the mark MK_(P2S) is detected. Then theCPU 8 checks in step SP99 to see if the top of the tape has beenreached.

If the result of the check in step SP99 is negative, the CPU 8 goes tostep SP93 and again checks to see if the number is the system programnumber specified in the reproducing order data.

If the check in step SP93 reveals that the system program number of thealready reproduced program is again specified for reproduction, thesystem goes to step SP94. In step SP94, the CPU 8 again reproduces theprogram.

If the system program number of a program recorded on the top side ofthe tape is specified following the already reproduced program, theresult of the check in step SP93 is negative. The CPU 8 then goes tostep SP95.

As described, where the system program number of a program recorded onthe top side is specified following an already reproduced program, theCPU goes through steps SP93, SP95, SP98, SP99 and back to SP93,repeatedly. When the result of the check in step SP93 is positive forthe system program number specified in the reproducing order data, thevideo tape 36 is rewound for reproduction of each program in the orderspecified in advance.

With the above steps repeated as needed, it is possible to reproduce oneprogram repeatedly or to reproduce a plurality of randomly recordedprograms in the correct broadcast order according to the order specifiedin the reproducing order data.

If the system program number of any program not recorded in the currentvideo cassette 35 is specified inadvertently, the CPU 8 goes to stepSP100 following the affirmative result obtained in step SP97 or SP99.

At this point, the CPU 8 displays an error message on the monitor 4 aswell as on the display screens 6A of the remote control 6. The CPU 8then goes to step SP101 and terminates the process.

From then on, the CPU 8 waits for an input by the user from the remotecontroller 6 or from the keyboard 12.

When the programs of the system program numbers specified in thereproducing order data have all been reproduced, the result of the checkin the step SP92 causes the CPU 8 to go to step SP102.

In step SP102, the CPU 8 outputs the control data S6 to the mechanismcontrol CPU 11 over the bus 10, rewinds or fast forwards the video tape36 to the program reproducing start position, and goes to step SP103where the processing is terminated.

The embodiment described above records the reproducing order data of theprograms recorded in the video cassette at the top side of the tape.Because the programs are reproduced without user intervention in apredetermined order according to the reproducing order data, the videotape recorder according to the invention is more convenient to use.

(3) Variations of the Sixth Embodiment

(3-1) In the above embodiment of FIGS. 27 and 28, the output managementdata D_(AV) is recorded in the management database video track recordingfield F_(AVV), the management database audio track recording fieldF_(AVA) and the management signal recording track on the video tape 36.Alternatively, the same effect is obtained by recording the managementdata in one only of these recording portions on the tape.

(3-2) In the above embodiment of FIGS. 27 and 28, the beginnings of theprograms are detected with reference to the mark signals MK_(P1S),MK_(P1E), MK_(P2S), and MK_(P2E). Alternatively, the beginnings of theprograms may be detected by referring to the start address item B1 ofthe program data.

(3-3) In the above embodiment of FIGS. 27 and 28, the recording-relateddata is input from the remote controller 6 by use of the language-basedinput item table TBL shown in FIG. 11. Alternatively, the data may beinput by many other methods.

(3-4) In the embodiment of FIGS. 27 and 28, the invention isincorporated in a video tape recorder. Alternatively, the invention maybe incorporated in a radio-equipped tape cassette recorder which ispreset to record audio signals.

(3-5) In the embodiment of FIGS. 27 and 28, the management data D_(AV)comprises the volume data block D_(VM) and program data block D_(PR)written in that order from the beginning of the recording tracks.Alternatively, positions of the blocks may be switched and/or the blocksmay be subdivided into further blocks for different arrangements, orotherwise allocated on the tape.

7! Seventh Embodiment

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the management data D_(AV) whenoutput is recorded in both the management database video track recordingfield F_(AVV) and the management database audio track recording fieldF_(AVA) on the video tape 36. Alternatively, the same effect is obtainedby recording the management data into either of these two fields.

(2) In the above embodiment, the language-based input item table TBL ofFIG. 11 is used to input recording data from the remote controller 6.Alternatively, the display screen 6A of the remote controller 6 maycarry an LCD panel capable of displaying three lines of data in eachitem field, as shown in FIG. 28. The normal operation mode setting key6D, the management database mode setting key 6F, the first presetoperation mode setting key 6G and the second preset operation modesetting key 6H are operated to produce, respectively, the displays inFIGS. 29, 30, 31 and 32. In this arrangement, common fields may be usedto input presetting data of different operation modes.

(3) In the above embodiment, the invention is incorporated in a videotape recorder. Alternatively, the invention may also be incorporated inappliances such as radio cassette recorders designed to preset therecording of audio signals.

(4) In the above embodiment, the management data D_(AV) comprises thevolume data block D_(VM) and program data block D_(PR) written in thatorder from the beginning of the recording track. Alternatively, thepositions of the blocks may be switched and/or the blocks may besubdivided into further blocks for different arrangements, or otherwiseallocated on the tape.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein,it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the invention,and it is intended, therefore, to cover the appended claims all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video tape recorder for recording at least oneprogram on a video tape, comprising:recording and reproducing means forrecording and reproducing signals on the video tape; input means forreceiving said at least one program; and control means for controllingthe recording of said at least one program on said video tape by saidrecording and reproducing means; said control means being selectivelyoperative to generate a first signal to control said recording andreproducing means to record management data of each program in amanagement database recording field formed on video recording tracks, togenerate a second signal to control said recording and reproducing meansto record management data of each program in a management databaserecording field formed on audio recording tracks, and to generate athird signal to control said recording and reproducing means to recordmanagement data of each program in a management database recording fieldformed on control signal recording tracks at a predetermined position onsaid video tape, said management data including volume data and programdata, said volume data including data common to each said program onsaid video tape, said program data including address data indicating astart position and an end position of each said program on said videotape, said management data further including write enable dataindicating whether or not each said program may be overwritten; saidcontrol means being further operative to control said recording andreproducing means to reproduce said address data and said write enabledata from said video tape, to store the reproduced address data andwrite enable data and control the recording of said at least one programat a permitted recording position based on the write enable data.
 2. Thevideo tape recorder of claim 1, wherein said management data furtherincludes data indicating the number of times said management data isrecorded on the video tape.
 3. The video tape recorder of claim 1,wherein said management data further includes data indicating the numberof tracks on which said management data is recorded.
 4. The video taperecorder of claim 1, wherein said management data further includesscreen display color data indicating a particular color to be displayedon a monitor when said management data is reproduced, said particularcolor identifying said video tape reproduced by said video taperecorder.
 5. The video tape recorder of claim 1, wherein the addressdata indicates relative start and end positions of each of said programson said video tape.
 6. A video tape recorder for recording at least oneprogram on a video tape, comprising:recording and reproducing means forrecording and reproducing signals on the video tape; input means forreceiving said at least one program; and control means for controllingthe recording of said at least one program on said video tape by saidrecording and reproducing means; said control means being selectivelyoperative to generate a first signal to control said recording andreproducing means to record management data in a management databaserecording field formed on video recording tracks, to generate a secondsignal to control said recording and reproducing means to recordmanagement data of each program in a management database recording fieldformed on audio recording tracks, and to generate a third signal tocontrol said recording and reproducing means to record management dataof each program in a management database recording field formed oncontrol signal recording tracks on said video tape, said management dataincluding volume data and program data, said volume data including datacommon to each program on said video tape, said program data includingaddress data indicating a start position and an end position of eachprogram on said video tape, said management data further includingrecording control data indicating at least a recording speed of eachsaid program; said control means being operative to control saidrecording and reproducing means to record position data on said videotape at locations at which programs are recorded identifying particularlocations of each program recorded on said video tape, said managementdata further including location data for indicating where on said videotape said position data is recorded; said control means being furtheroperative to control said recording and reproducing means to reproducesaid recording control data from said video tape, to store thereproduced recording control data and control a speed of recording ofsaid at least one program by said recording and reproducing means bymeans of said reproduced recording control data.
 7. The video taperecorder of claim 6, wherein said position data for each programincludes program start data and program end data; and wherein saidcontrol means is operative to control said recording and reproducingmeans to record said program start data and said program end data at astarting position and an ending position, respectively, of a program. 8.The video tape recorder of claim 6, further comprising means forselecting one of said at least one program recorded on said video tape;and search means for fast-forwarding or rewinding said video tape; andwherein said control means is operative to control said recording andreproducing means to reproduce said position data from said video tapewhen said search means is fast-forwarding or rewinding said video tape;said control means being further operative to compare said reproducedposition data with said management data corresponding to the selectedprogram and to control said search means to stop fast-forwarding orrewinding said video tape when said reproduced position data identifiesthe selected program.
 9. The video tape recorder of claim 6, whereinsaid address data identifies relative start and end positions of eachprogram recorded on said video tape.
 10. The video tape recorder ofclaim 6, wherein said control means further is operative to control saidrecording and reproducing means to record said management data common toall of the recorded programs in a management database recording fieldformed at a beginning position of said video tape.
 11. A video taperecorder for recording at least one program on a video tape,comprising:recording and reproducing means for recording and reproducingsignals on the video tape; input means for receiving said at least oneprogram; and control means for controlling the recording of said atleast one program on said video tape by said recording and reproducingmeans; said control means being selectively operative to generate afirst signal to control said recording and reproducing means to recordmanagement data of each program in a management database recording fieldformed on video recording tracks, to generate a second signal to controlsaid recording and reproducing means to record management data of eachprogram in a management database recording field formed on audiorecording tracks, and to generate a third signal to control saidrecording and reproducing means to record management data of eachprogram in a management database recording field formed on controlsignal recording tracks on said video tape, said management dataincluding recording control data; said control means being operative tocontrol said recording and reproducing means to record updatedmanagement data after recording of said at least one program, saidupdated management data identifying said at least one program recordedon the video tape and including address data indicating a start positionand an end position of each said program recorded on said video tape;said control means being further operative to control said recording andreproducing means to reproduce said recording control data from saidvideo tape, to store the reproduced recording control data, and controlthe recording of said at least one program by said recording andreproducing means by means of said reproduced recording control data.12. The video tape recorder of claim 11, further comprising means forforwarding or rewinding the video tape after recording of said at leastone program to locate the management database recording field prior torecording the updated management data; and wherein said recording andreproducing means records the updated management data in the managementdatabase recording field.
 13. The video tape recorder of claim 11,wherein said address data identifies relative start and end positions ofeach program recorded on said video tape.
 14. The video tape recorder ofclaim 11, wherein said control means further is operative to controlsaid recording and reproducing means to record said management datacommon to all of the recorded programs in a management databaserecording field formed at a beginning position of said video tape.
 15. Avideo tape recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and/orreproducing at least one program onto/from a video tape, the apparatusbeing adapted to record and reproduce a management database recordingfield onto/from said video tape at a predetermined position on recordingtracks of said video tape, said management database recording fieldhaving management data recorded therein, said management data comprisingprogram data and volume data, said program data comprising informationabout each program and including information representing recordingstart time and input source of each program to be recorded, said volumedata comprising information about the video tape, and including acontroller for controlling the operation of said apparatus based uponsaid management data, wherein said controller is operable to record aprogram onto said video tape in accordance with said program data. 16.An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the recording tracks of saidvideo tape include video recording tracks, audio recording tracks andcontrol signal recording tracks, said management data being recorded insaid video recording tracks.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the recording tracks of said video tape include video recordingtracks, audio recording tracks and control signal recording tracks, saidmanagement data being recorded in said audio recording tracks.
 18. Anapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the recording tracks of saidvideo tape include video recording tracks, audio recording tracks andcontrol signal recording tracks, said management data being recorded insaid control signal recording tracks.
 19. An apparatus according toclaim 15, wherein said management data includes address datarepresenting the recording start time of each program, the apparatusbeing operable to replay a previously recorded one of said programs orrecord a new program by reference to said address data.
 20. An apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein said management database recording fieldis formed at the start of the video tape.
 21. An apparatus according toclaim 15, wherein said management database recording field includesreproducing order data representing the order to produce recordedprograms.
 22. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein saidmanagement database recording field includes recording order datarepresenting the order to record new programs.
 23. An apparatusaccording to claim 15, further comprising:data input means for inputtingmanagement data and means for writing said management data to saidmanagement database recording field.